WHO IS YOSHIHIDE SUGA?
YOSHIHIDE SUGA IS JAPAN'S NEWLY-ELECTED PRIME MINISTER. THE 71-YEAR-OLD
ASSUMED OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY, SUCCEEDING SHINZO ABE WHO RESIGNED DUE TO ILL HEALTH.
ELECTED RULING PARTY'S LEADER
SUGA, WHO SERVED AS CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY IN SHINZO ABE'S ADMINISTRATION, WAS ELECTED LEADER OF JAPAN'S RULING LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY ON MONDAY.
HE WON 377 OF A TOTAL OF 534 VOTES.
HIS EARLY YEARS
SUGA WAS BORN TO A STRAWBERRY FARMER IN THE NORTHERN AKITA PREFECTURE IN JAPAN.
THE YOUNG SUGA DIDN'T TAKE UP THE FAMILY FARM BUT LEFT FOR TOKYO. HE STUDIED AT HOSEI UNIVERSITY AND WORKED AT A CARDBOARD FACTORY TO PAY HIS FEES.
SUGA'S RISE TO POWER
AFTER GRADUATION, HE BECAME A POLITICIAN'S SECRETARY.
IN 1987, SUGA WAS ELECTED TO THE YOKOHAMA CITY COUNCIL.
IN 1996, HE WAS ELECTED TO JAPAN'S DIET (PARLIAMENT) FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SUGA AND ABE
A CLOSE ALLY OF ABE, SUGA WAS INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER IN ABE'S FIRST TERM OF GOVERNMENT IN 2006. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING ABE RECLAIM THE PARTY LEADERSHIP IN 2012, AND WAS REWARDED WITH THE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY POSITION.
KEY POLICIES
SUGA HAS PLEDGED TO CONTINUE THE RECORD DEFICIT SPENDING AND QUANTITATIVE
EASING OF "ABENOMICS".
• REDUCE MOBILE PHONE RATES
•RESTRUCTURE REGIONAL BANKS
•ENCOURAGE FURTHER DIGITISATION OF THE ECONOMY
SUGA ALSO SUPPORTS HOLDING THE JAPAN OLYMPICS NEXT YEAR.
LEADERSHIP VOTE IN 2021
SUGA FACES A LEADERSHIP VOTE IN SEPTEMBER 2021,
UNDER PARTY RULES REQUIRING A BALLOT EVERY THREE YEARS FOR EACH REGULAR TERM OF THE PARTY LEADER.