Tokyo, Dec 26 (IANS): Shinzo Abe, the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was elected Japan's new prime minister in the lower house of parliament Wednesday.
Abe, who held the post from 2006 to 2007, will immediately unveil his new cabinet, reported Xinhua.
In the election, Abe got 328 votes from 478 valid votes in the 480-seat lower house.
The LDP and its coalition partner hold 325 seats in the more powerful lower house after winning a landslide victory in the Dec 16 election.
In the first round of election in the upper house, Abe failed to gain more than half of votes in the 242-seat chamber, but it will not obstruct Abe from becoming Japan's new prime minister.