Kan elected as new Japanese PM

Japan’s lower house elected Naoto Kan as the new prime minister today, handing the outspoken, grass-roots populist the task of quickly reclaiming public support lost by his predecessor ahead of July elections.

“My task is to rebuild this nation,” Mr Kan said after he was chosen ruling party chief. Pledging to confront problems linking “money and politics”, he also stressed the need to spur economic growth.