TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Yasuo Fukuda, new president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was declared prime minister by the Japanese House of Representatives, or lower house of the Diet, late Tuesday afternoon.

    The two chambers of the Diet failed to reach a consensus on their selections of a premier. Under the Japanese Constitution, the lower house's final decision prevails to be that of the Diet.

Yasuo Fukuda, the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party, is congratulated by colleagues after being elected as Japan's prime minister by the Lower House in Tokyo Sept. 25, 2007. In the vote casting Fukuda won 338 votes out of the total of 476 valid ballots. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    In the vote casting held earlier in the afternoon at the lower house, Fukuda won 338 votes out of the total of 476 valid ballots. Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan, got 117 ballots.

    Ozawa was elected prime minister shortly after by the House of Councilors, or upper house of the Diet, since the opposition bloc enjoys the majority there. He obtained 133 votes out of the 239 valid ballots in the second round of voting. The upper house's first round of voting failed to give a result because no one gained more than half of the ballots.

    The decision of the upper house was actually futile as it contradicted that of the lower house.

    The two chambers procedurally organized a joint committee for reconciliation, but failed to reach a consensus. The lower house later declared that Fukuda was elected premier by the parliament.

    Such coordination meeting for the appointment of a premier hadn't been called in the past nine years. The ruling LDP had been controlling both houses of the Diet as of July, when it suffered a crushing defeat in the upper house election and lost the majority to the opposition bloc.

    Fukuda, 71, was actually assured of the premier's post as he was elected LDP president on Sunday since the ruling party still controls the majority in the lower house.

    The seasoned politician, known for his friendly attitude toward Asian countries, will be the first Japanese premier whose father, Takeo Fukuda, used to be on the post.

    Fukuda agreed with New Komeito party leader in the morning to continue the two parties' ruling coalition partnership. He will form the Cabinet later in the day and lead the Cabinet members to attend an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace.

    It is now the common speculation of the Japanese media that the Cabinet lineup is unlikely to differ from the current one significantly.

    Former Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura will be appointed chief Cabinet secretary, former Defense Minister Masahiko Komura will become foreign minister, and former defense agency chief Shigeru Ishiba will be defense minister, according to NHK. 

Lineup of Japan's new Cabinet declared

    TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Japanese newly-appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura declared the lineup of new Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's Cabinet later Tuesday.

    Seasoned politicians were given crucial posts by Fukuda, who was elected premier by the Diet in the afternoon. 

Fukuda virtually elected PM by Japanese parliament

    TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Yasuo Fukuda, newly-elected president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was virtually elected prime minister by the country's parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

    In the vote casting held at the House of Representatives, or lower house of the Diet, Fukuda won 338 votes out of the total of 476 valid ballots. Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition party, got 117 ballots.

Fukuda wins Japan's ruling party presidential election

    TOKYO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan's former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election Sunday, beating his rival the LDP Secretary General Taro Aso. 
    Fukuda grabbed 330 votes out of the eligible 527 votes from the LDP lawmakers and prefectural chapters to succeed Shinzo Abe. Former foreign minister Aso received 197 votes. There was one invalid ballot.

Profile: Fukuda Yasuo: Japan's new ruling party leader, would-be PM

    TOKYO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Fukuda Yasuo was elected as the new president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Sunday. The 71-year-old veteran politician is on the way to succeed the outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday.

    Fukuda beat his only rival, LDP secretary general Taro Aso, winning 330 votes out of the total 527 valid votes from Diet lawmakers and prefectural chapters.