TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's ruling party on Sunday chose moderate political veteran Yasuo Fukuda as the country's next prime minister, seeking safe hands after a disastrous year under conservative Shinzo Abe.
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The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is still reeling from a landmark election defeat in July, and a resurgent opposition immediately vowed to press Fukuda to call a snap general poll.
Fukuda, 71, a dour-looking behind-the-scenes operator who openly admits he lacks charisma, easily fended off a challenge from hawkish former foreign minister Taro Aso in the race to lead the world's second largest economy.
Fukuda, wearing his usual grey suit, bowed before LDP members and pledged to revive the party, which he acknowledged faced "huge difficulties."
"I would like to do my best to revive the LDP," Fukuda said.
"I want the LDP to be born again so it recovers the public trust and is able to steadfastly carry out policies," he said.
Abe, an outspoken conservative who campaigned to build a "beautiful nation" freed from the legacies of World War II defeat, abruptly resigned September 12 after a slew of scandals involving his cabinet and sliding approval ratings.
Abe, who was considered a bright young face for the LDP when he took over a year ago this week, checked himself into a hospital after his resignation for treatment of extreme stress and exhaustion.
"I apologise to party members and especially to all the Japanese people that I created this political vacuum after I announced my resignation at such an important time," Abe said in a letter read to the LDP meeting.
Abe, who remains out of sight, pledged to stand behind Fukuda, whose views on issues ranging from North Korea to wartime history are more centrist than Abe's.
Analysts say the LDP wanted a respite from the ideologically driven Abe and his predecessor Junichiro Koizumi, who won elections through his flamboyant style but spearheaded free-market reforms unpopular in the countryside.
"Fukuda is not charismatic but he is being viewed as a safe pair of hands," said Robert Dujarric, director of Temple University's Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies.
"They know he's not going to be totally incompetent."
Fukuda, a former oilman and top aide to premiers, received 330 votes among party members against 197 for Aso, the party announced. One vote was invalid.
The vote by LDP lawmakers and local officials made Fukuda party president. He is virtually assured of being installed as prime minister Tuesday by parliament, where an LDP-led coalition controls the more powerful lower house.
Fukuda will be Japan's oldest prime minister on entering office since 1991, a stark contrast to the 53-year-old Abe, who was Japan's youngest leader in recent times and faced criticism that he was too inexperienced.
Fukuda himself has faulted Abe for not stepping down earlier after the LDP lost control of the upper house of parliament for the first time in the July elections.
Fukuda has also pledged to ease the pain of rural voters, who feel left out of Japan's economic recovery and deserted the LDP in the recent elections.
The opposition has vowed to use the upper house to end a naval mission supporting US-led forces in Afghanistan. Abe effectively staked his job on renewal of the mandate, which Fukuda also supports.
Senior opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama pledged to press Fukuda for a general election, which many observers predict will come by next year.
"The people's wishes are not just for a swapping of power within the LDP," Hatoyama said.
Fukuda held the powerful post of chief cabinet secretary, the top aide to the premier, for a record three-and-a-half years until 2004, developing a reputation for damage control and effective management of the bureaucracy.
He is known for his close contacts with China and for hobnobbing with Tokyo-based diplomats. He is the son of late prime minister Takeo Fukuda, who signed a peace-and-friendship treaty with China in 1978.
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