Japan’s reelected Prime Minister Ishiba vows to step up reform

Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has pledged to take tougher measures against misuse of political funds after he was reelected by parliament following a major loss in the polls last month by his governing coalition. Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner Komeito together lost a majority in the 465-seat Lower House in the Oct. 27 election. The defeat was blamed on voter outrage over financial misconduct by his party. Ishiba beat top opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda in a special parliamentary session convened to pick a new leader after a general election.