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| Aso picked to become new Japan PM | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Members of Japan's ruling party have selected a bluff conservative, Taro Aso, as their new leader, meaning he is almost certain to become the next PM. | |
| Mr Aso advocates greater public spending to promote the economy, and an assertive foreign policy. | Mr Aso advocates greater public spending to promote the economy, and an assertive foreign policy. |
| He overwhelmed his four Liberal Democratic Party rivals for the party leadership in a crowded race. | |
| The LDP is struggling to combat a long-term slump in public popularity, and early general elections are now likely. | |
| Its last two prime ministers have quit after serving just a year each. | Its last two prime ministers have quit after serving just a year each. |
| Landslide vote | |
| Mr Aso received 351 out of the 527 votes cast, party election chief Hideo Usui announced after voting, according to Reuters news agency. | |
| Kaoru Yosano, the minister for economic and fiscal policy, trailed in second place at 66 votes. Former defence minister Yuriko Koike, who hoped to become Japan's first female prime minister, placed third with 46 votes. | |
| The LDP leader looks certain to be approved as the country's prime minister on Wednesday because of the party's majority in the lower house of parliament. | |
| The country's new prime minister will face the uphill challenge of steering the Japanese economy away from the brink of recession. | |
| Japan's last prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, abruptly resigned last September, having fought chronic low popularity ratings in less than a year in office. |