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Taro Aso set to become Japan's PM Taro Aso confirmed as Japan's PM
(about 2 hours later)
The lower house of Japan's parliament, the Diet, has confirmed Taro Aso as the country's new prime minister. Japan's parliament has confirmed flamboyant conservative Taro Aso as the country's new prime minister.
He will be Japan's third leader in just two years, and replaces Yasuo Fukuda, who resigned earlier this month. But reflecting the deep division facing Mr Aso, the lower house was forced to overrule the upper house's alternative choice of an opposition figure.
Mr Aso's nomination as prime minister now goes to Japan's upper house before it is officially confirmed. A stable of well-established right-wing politicians emerged as the likely members of Mr Aso's new cabinet.
The upper house is controlled by the opposition, but Mr Aso's appointment is not in doubt as the lower house can overrule the upper when they disagree. But analysts suggested Mr Aso was likely to call a snap election in a bid to shore up his political authority.
However the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says the upper house can still draw out the process for several hours. Mr Aso's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has dominated Japanese politics for more than 50 years, but is now facing an ascendant opposition.
The loss of control of the upper house last year has made it hard for the governing Liberal Democratic Party to push its policies through parliament. The final battle has begun Ichiro Ozawa Head of opposition Democratic Party of Japan
Mr Aso has made it clear he wants to try to change this, and plans to call an early general election. The last prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, resigned from his post in early September after less than a year, frustrated by the ability of the opposition-controlled upper house of parliament to stymie his legislative plans.
So although he will begin appointing a new cabinet later on Wednesday, few expect the new ministers to be in post for long. In addition Japan is facing stormy economic conditions, reflected in Mr Aso's remarks to reporters before being confirmed in his post.
Our correspondent says this will be an administration that feels it has no choice but to dissolve itself, perhaps within weeks, to seek a new mandate to govern. "When I look at the financial situation and other things, I feel like we're in a turbulent period - not in peacetime," he said.
"Frankly speaking, I am once again feeling the gravity of my responsibilities."
Tips for cabinet
Mr Aso was able to benefit from the LDP's two-thirds majority in the lower house of the Diet when his bid for the prime minister's post came up for approval.
He was approved by the lower house, only for the upper house to swing its weight behind Ichiro Ozawa, head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DJP), forcing the more powerful lower house to override it in a third vote.
A number of ruling party politicians emerged as likely figures in Mr Aso's new cabinet.
Ruling party hawk and former economic minister Shoichi Nakagawa was identified as the likely new finance minister.
Hirofumi Nakasone - son of one of Japan's most best-known premiers, the nationalist Yasuhiro Nakasone - was thought likely to acquire the foreign affairs ministry.
Mr Aso's erstwhile rival for the LDP leadership, fiscal conservative Kaoru Yosano, was tipped to remain in his post of economics minister despite apparent key differences with Mr Aso over the right way to revitalise the Japanese economy.
Risky election
Another former rival, Shigeru Ishiba, was also thought likely to appear in a new cabinet.
Analysts suggest any new cabinet is unlikely to be in post long, as Mr Aso is thought likely to call new general elections quickly.
But in doing so, he would risk ceding even more political territory to the opposition, they caution.
DJP leader Mr Ozawa appeared to relish the challenge in his remarks quoted by AFP news agency on Wednesday.
"The final battle has begun. The autumn of elections - the autumn to change the government - is coming," he reportedly said.