(News.com.au) JAPAN'S Yasuo Fukuda is expected to be selected prime minister today, then form a cabinet that must confront a resurgent opposition keen to force an early election.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chose Mr Fukuda, a 71-year-old seasoned moderate, as its leader on Sunday to revive party fortunes after a disastrous year of scandals and election defeat under Shinzo Abe, who resigned abruptly on Sept. 12.
Mr Fukuda, a proponent of warmer ties with Japan's Asian neighbours, will be voted in as prime minister by Parliament's Lower House, where the ruling camp has a huge majority.
In a sign of the battles ahead, the Opposition-controlled Upper House was expected to vote for Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the main Opposition Democratic Party, but the vote by the more powerful Lower Chamber takes precedence.
The seemingly bland but sometimes testy Mr Fukuda will become the oldest new prime minister since Kiichi Miyazawa assumed the office in 1991 at the age of 72, and the first son of a premier to hold the post.
Japanese media have reported that Mr Fukuda will likely retain most ministers - including Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga - from Abe's cabinet, which was reshuffled just last month in an attempt by the outgoing premier to maintain his grip on power.
But there was speculation that former Foreign Minister Taro Aso might get a plum post after the hawkish, outspoken lawmaker did better than expected in the party leadership race.
Mr Fukuda tapped faction leaders who had backed his bid for the top job as his party lieutenants, prompting criticism from the Opposition and some media for relying on old-style factional dynamics and cronyism in his personnel decisions.