Japanese former finance minister Yoshihiko Noda was today elected as the country’s new Prime Minister by the parliament. He is the sixth prime minister to head Japan in the last five years.
The 54-year old Noda was on Monday elected as president of the ruling Democratic Party making it certain he would be named the new Prime Minister.
Mr. Noda, who takes over in place of Naoto Kan who has quit, will now be burdened with the task of finding solutions to several daunting problems including the post-tsunami recovery, nuclear crisis, sluggish economy and yen’s surge.
Mr. Noda, seen as a conservative in monetary aspects by many, supports free trade and a stronger partnership with the United States on several issues. Mr. Noda has angered China and South Korea in the past with his open comments about convicted wartime leaders.
