Japan’s former foreign minister Fumio Kishida has won a leadership race for the country’s Liberal Democratic Party, which effectively guarantees he will be the next prime minister within days.
Kishida beat out numerous contenders, including outspoken defence and foreign minister Taro Kano, and female candidate Sanae Takaichi.
Despite lukewarm public support for Kishida, his replacement of the current unpopular Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will greatly affect the general election in the coming weeks.