Photo/Illutration Yoshihiko Noda speaks after being elected president of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan on Sept. 23 in Tokyo's Minato Ward. (Kotaro Ebara)

Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda was elected president of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in a runoff on Sept. 23.

Noda, 67, defeated former CDP President Yukio Edano, 60, in the second round of voting at a special party meeting held at a hotel in Tokyo.

Two other candidates, current CDP President Kenta Izumi, 50, and Lower House member Harumi Yoshida, 52, also ran.

Noda will serve a three-year term.

The election was based on a system in which votes by Diet members and local politicians were converted into points.

In the first round of voting, Noda received 267 of the 740 points, short of a majority, and entered a runoff with Edano, who received 206 points.

Izumi received 143 points and Yoshida gai9ned 122 points in the first round.

The runoff was for 417 points, and voting was limited to Diet members, candidates the party plans to endorse in national elections, and delegates from prefectural and metropolitan party branches.

Noda received 232 points, while Edano gained 180 points.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will hold a presidential election on Sept. 27 to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is not seeking re-election.

Related News