Japan’s Suga Wins Ruling Party Leadership Race to Replace Abe

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga looks on during ballot-casting at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 14, 2020. Eugene Hoshiko/Pool via Reuters

TOKYO—Japan’s Yoshihide Suga, a long-time ally of outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, won a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election on Monday, paving the way for him to become prime minister in a parliamentary vote this week.

He is virtually certain to be elected prime minister in the Wednesday vote because of the LDP’s majority in the lower house.