Japan re-elected as leader of the ruling party

Since taking office in December 2012, Abe has led Japan to generally stable growth, thanks to the radical monetary easing of the Bank of Japan. A cheaper yen has boosted corporate profits and the job market is tight, thanks to growth in exports to China and other countries.

But Ishiba got some support from the ruling party's base with his argument that the benefits did not go to the average workers and regions outside the big cities. Mr. Ishiba won about 45% of the votes of party members and supporters. He received the support of only 18% of party party members.

Ishiba was also supported in describing Abe as an authoritarian leader who stifled intrapartite debate and listened to only his friends – alluding to accusations the Prime Minister rejected that his government would have helped a friend badly. Abe to open a veterinary school.

In response, Abe said he would rule "humbly" and "politely".

Abe said it would be his last election as leader of the party. Unless there is a scandal or a sudden drop in popularity, he will likely remain Prime Minister during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and will seek to revise the Constitution to make it clear that the Japanese military is legal. A parliamentary general election must not take place until the fall of 2021.

In terms of the economy, Abe's top priorities are to recruit more foreign workers to spur growth and push back President Trump's trade pressure. Although it has focused more recently on China, the Trump administration has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25% on imported cars and auto parts, including those from Japan.

Abe's assistants say they are drafting a law that will come into force on April 1, 2019, which would create a new foreign worker admissions program that can show they have the skills they need in Japan and can speak rudimentary Japanese. .

Although details remain to be sorted out, the new program could open the door to hundreds of thousands of non-Japanese in construction sites, retirement homes and other industries in short supply of workers.

The number of foreigners in Japan is already increasing rapidly. The government said this week that the number of foreign residents reached 2.64 million by June 30, representing more than 2% of the total population and increasing by 29% in five years.

In view of the shrinking of the Japanese population, Abe said he would cut the costs of education and make the college free for low-income people, hoping to encourage large families.

While it will remain until 2021, Mr. Abe will rank among the oldest ministers of Japanese history, beating his great-uncle Eisaku Sato (1964-72) for most consecutive days and a pre-war leader, Taro Katsura. total number of days, including non-consecutive terms. Abe was also Prime Minister in 2006-07.

Write to Peter Landers at [email protected]