With Japanese Prime Minister Sigeru Isiba announcing his resignation, attention is focused on who will be the next head of the fourth largest economy in the world.

The procedure for choosing the new Japan leader is more complicated than in the past. This is because the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Isiba, which has ruled Japan for most of the post -war period, as well as its smaller partner in the Coalition, lost the majority of both bodies of the House during his term.

Race for party leadership

Initially, LDP should choose New President to replace Isiba And the date is not yet set.

In the latest intra -party leadership election, in September 2024, candidates had to secure 20 support signatures by party members so they can nominate.

Candidates will begin a period of discussions and campaigns across Japan, culminating in the vote by MPs and party members. In the last election there were nine candidates and the Isiba won in a second round.

LDP’s vote

Based on the previous procedure, each Member has a votewhile an equal number of votes is distributed Among the members of the base In the first round of voting.

The candidate who secures the simple majority in this vote becomes leader of the party. If no one secures a majority, there is a repeat vote between the first two candidates.

In the second round, Each Member has a vote againwhile the share share is limited to 47 votes, One for each county of Japan.

In the unlikely case, the winner is drawn by draw. This has never happened in leadership election, but was used in 2010 to decide who will chair the LDP parliamentary group in the upper parliament, according to Reuters.

House votes

Since the party does not have a majority in either of the two seats, It is not guaranteed that the LDP president will also become prime minister.

In 1994, the LDP formed a triple alliance with its original opponent, the Socialist Party of Japan, and a smaller party, in order to regain power, electing socialist leader Tomitsi Muragiama Prime Minister.

On the basis of the previous one, the Stronger Lower House votes first to raise prime minister. Members can propose any candidate from the room, and opposition leaders have historically been proposed.

Anyone who secures a simple majority in the first round wins. If no one secures the majority, follow second round between the two dominant candidates.

Then the process goes to the Upper parliamentwhere a similar vote is held, although only members of the Lower House can be elected prime ministers.

If there is a disagreement between bodies, The choice of the lower Parliament overrides. This happened in 2008, when the Lower House chose the LDP candidate, while the upper parliament of the opposition.

The new prime minister may also announced early general electionsasking for a national command.