TOKYO, Oct 1, (AP): Japan’s parliament on Tuesday elected Shigeru Ishiba, head of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, as the country’s new prime minister. Ishiba was chosen as the party's leader on Friday to replace Fumio Kishida, who then stepped down earlier on Tuesday to pave the way. Ishiba stood and bowed as he was nominated in the lower house, the more powerful of the two chambers of parliament, before leaving for the Prime Minister's Office.

Ishiba will announce his new Cabinet later on Tuesday. Kishida took office in 2021 but left so his party could have a fresh leader after his government was dogged by scandals. Ishiba plans to call a parliamentary election for Oct. 27. "I believe it is important to have the new administration get the public’s judgment as soon as possible,” Ishiba said Monday in announcing his plan to call a snap election after he was formally elected prime minister.

He is expected to dissolve the parliament on Oct. 9 ahead of an election campaign. Opposition parties criticized Ishiba for announcing such a plan before even becoming leader and allowing only a short period of time for his policies to be examined and discussed in parliament before the national election. Opposition protests delayed the start of the parliamentary vote for about half an hour, signaling a rocky start for Ishiba

. "I will squarely face the people, discuss policies sincerely to gain their understanding. My government won't walk away from challenges and get things done,” Ishiba said before the parliamentary vote. Kishida had announced in August he would resign at the end of his three-year term to pave the way for a fresh leader ahead of the next national election, as corruption scandals dogged his party and government.