Taro Aso Confirmed As Japan's New Prime Minister

Taro Aso, Japan's new prime minister, prepared today to name a cabinet packed with fellow conservatives as his party braces itself its most difficult election in recent memory.

Aso, a 68-year-old former foreign minister, easily won a lower house vote to become Japan's third prime minister in just over a year. In a symbolic show of defiance, the opposition-controlled upper house voted for Democratic party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa.

Aso's rise, at the fourth attempt, to the top of Japanese politics began on Monday with a landslide victory in a vote to choose a new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic party [LDP] following the surprise resignation of Yasuo Fukuda.

Fukuda stepped down earlier this month after less than a year as prime minister; his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, resigned a year ago amid political scandals and concerns over his health.

The turmoil is unlikely to end with Aso's appointment, however, with his party under pressure to address mounting economic concerns by a restless electorate and a resurgent opposition.

Speculation is mounting that Aso, an outspoken conservative with a nack for gaffes, will call an election within weeks in an attempt to capitalize on an expected short-term boost in support for his embattled party.

Aso, though, has said he will guide an economic stimulus package through parliament before calling an election, possibly in early November.

"If you look at the current period, it's not a stable one," he told reporters. "These are turbulent times with the financial situation and everything else, so I feel a renewed sense of responsibility."

Regardless of the timing, the election is expected to be one of the closest in recent memory.

Though it has governed Japan almost continuously since its formation in 1955, the LDP is floundering in the polls amid concerns over the economy and anger at the government's handling of pensions and rising medical costs for the elderly.

Leaks to the media suggested Aso would appoint allies from the party's right wing to key cabinet posts.

Shoichi Nakagawa, a prominent China critic who has called on Japan to consider developing an independent nuclear deterrent, is expected to be named finance minister.

Hirofumi Nakasone, whose father, Yasuhiro, cultivated close ties with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher while prime minister in the 1980s, is tipped to become foreign minister.

Kunio Hatoyama, who is tipped to return as justice minister, earned the nickname the Grim Reaper during his previous stint in the post earlier this year after presiding over a record number of executions.

Aso, an English speaker who studied briefly at the London School of Economics, will be given an early opportunity to hone his diplomatic skills when he flies to New York tomorrow to attend the UN general assembly.