Democratic Party of Japan chose Yukio Hatoyama as its new president Saturday by a relatively large margin over Katsuya Okada, who was the more popular candidate among the public in opinion polls.
The DPJ, as the largest opposition force and most powerful party in the Upper House, could be the next ruling party depending on the Lower House general election. This means Hatoyama, grandson of a former prime minister, could hold the No. 1 office himself before the year is out.
"All along, our rival has been the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito bloc and not each other," Hatoyama said after he was elected. "There were no sides the minute the election ended."