Suga, Japan's Prime Minister, Holds First Press Conference Since Inauguration: "Inheriting Abenomics Is My Mission"

"Promoting Diplomatic Policy Centered on the US-Japan Alliance"... Biggest Challenge is Overcoming COVID-19
Held for About 30 Minutes at the Prime Minister's Official Residence

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Yoshihide Suga, the new Prime Minister of Japan, stated, "My mission is to inherit the policies of the Abe administration and move forward."

According to Nihon Keizai on the 16th, Prime Minister Suga held his first press conference since taking office at the Prime Minister's Official Residence and said, "We must overcome the crisis and ensure that the people can live with peace of mind."

During the approximately 30-minute press conference, regarding the worsening economic situation following the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, "Economic recovery is the administration's most important task," and added, "I will inherit 'Abenomics,' which is based on monetary easing, fiscal investment, and growth strategies, and promote further reforms."

He continued, "Once we overcome this crisis, we will implement reforms and necessary investments to build a 'post-COVID' society and aim for a strong economic recovery again." He also plans to promote policies addressing digitalization and supply chain challenges.

When asked about the top priority that must be addressed now, he answered, "COVID-19 vaccines." He emphasized, "We must definitely prevent explosive spread and protect the lives and health of the people." He added that he plans to secure vaccines so that all citizens can receive them by the first half of next year.

Regarding diplomacy and security, Prime Minister Suga said, "We will develop policies centered on the U.S.-Japan alliance," and added, "We will promote a free and open Indo-Pacific strategy while simultaneously building stable relations with neighboring countries, including China and Russia."

On the issue of North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens, he stated, "We will devote all efforts to resolving this," and mentioned, "We will continue to work closely with related countries, including the United States, to realize the prompt return of all abductees."

Earlier, Japan's National Diet, consisting of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, elected Suga, the Liberal Democratic Party leader, as the 99th Prime Minister through a new prime minister election following Abe's resignation.

In Japan, which adopts a parliamentary cabinet system, this is the first change of the administrative head, the Prime Minister, in about 7 years and 8 months since the launch of the second Abe administration in December 2012.

Prime Minister Suga received 314 votes (68%), far exceeding the majority line (232 votes) out of the total 462 votes in the House of Representatives, the lower house, and secured 142 votes, close to 60% of the total 240 votes in the House of Councillors, the upper house, thus receiving the nomination.

Article 67 of the Japanese Constitution stipulates that when the cabinet resigns en masse, the National Diet shall designate the next Prime Minister through a parliamentary election. Following Prime Minister Abe's announcement of his resignation on the 28th of last month due to health reasons, the Abe cabinet held an extraordinary cabinet meeting on the morning of this day and resigned en masse.