Noda, 54, will become the third prime minister since Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) swept to power in a historic general election victory two years ago, as well as Japan`s sixth premier in just five years, as DPJ controls the more powerful lower house in the Diet.
Noda, a fiscal hawk, garnered 215 ballots out of 392 valid votes, compared with 177 votes for Kaieda, who is backed by DPJ power broker Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the largest intraparty faction.
In his acceptance speech, Noda pledged to DPJ members of both houses his resolve to do his utmost as the DPJ leader, saying he felt a sense of renewed cohesion within the (ruling) party and it was time to overcome intraparty squabbling. He said the DPJ needs to "unify as one, as that is what the public wants."
"Managing a government is like pushing a snowball up a hill in order to make a snowman," Noda said. "We cannot have any more infighting, as this is like the snowball falling back down the hill and just getting heavier."
"We must pull together to push the snowball back up the hill for the sake of the public. Together, with all of you, I will work so that the people of Japan will not regret choosing us as the ruling party of Japan," said Noda.
Kaieda led in the first round of voting. But neither of the two won the majority in the first round of a crowded election, which was also joined by former foreign minister Seiji Maehara, agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister Michihiko Kano, and former transport minister Sumio Mabuchi.
The election is boiled down to the fierce competition between supporters and enemies of Ozawa, dubbed as the "Shadow Shogun" who masterminded DPJ`s election victory. Ozawa himself was barred from voting as his party membership was suspended following indictment earlier this year over a political fund scandal.
Xinhua-OANA/H-AK
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
