Fukuda is new Japan PM

TOKYO – Japan’s parliament elected political insider Yasuo Fukuda as prime minister yesterday, thrusting the veteran moderate into the job of battling a resurgent opposition and rebuilding the scandal-scarred ruling party.

Fukuda immediately named a Cabinet that overlapped considerably with the lineup of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, in an apparent bid to limit disruption following Abe’s shock resignation earlier this month. In his first news conference, Fukuda vowed to push for extension of Japan’s naval mission in support of US-led forces in Afghanistan, clear up a scandal over the loss of millions of pension records, and regain the public’s trust in politics.Nampa-APIn his first news conference, Fukuda vowed to push for extension of Japan’s naval mission in support of US-led forces in Afghanistan, clear up a scandal over the loss of millions of pension records, and regain the public’s trust in politics.Nampa-AP