Land minister Saito Tetsuo to take helm of Japan's Komeito party

Nov 08 (NHK) - The junior party of Japan's ruling coalition, Komeito, is set to appoint land minister Saito Tetsuo as the new chief representative this week.

In a meeting on Thursday, party executives decided to name Saito as the successor to the outgoing chief, Ishii Keiichi.

Ishii recently announced his intention to resign to take responsibility for the party's setback in October's Lower House election.

The junior coalition partner of the main governing Liberal Democratic Party won 24 seats in the chamber, down by eight from the pre-election position. Ishii lost his own seat.

Saito, from Hiroshima District 3, has been elected to the Lower House 11 times. He is 72 years old.

He has previously served as party secretary general and as environment minister. He is currently land minister and deputy chief representative of the party.

Saito intends to step down as land minister when Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru forms a new Cabinet after being re-elected in an upcoming special Diet session.

Komeito will officially elect Saito as chief representative in an extraordinary party convention on Saturday.

Party Secretary General Nishida Makoto and policy chief Okamoto Mitsunari are expected to retain their posts.

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