Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday he will double as foreign minister until he relaunches the Cabinet after Japan's parliament convenes a special session next week.
His Liberal Democratic Party appointed Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to its No. 2 post of secretary-general on Thursday morning. Among candidates to succeed Motegi is former education minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, sources close to the matter have said.
Under the Constitution, the Cabinet must resign en masse when the first session of the Diet is convened after a general election. In a special session expected to be held Wednesday the Diet is set to reappoint Kishida as prime minister, and he will then relaunch the Cabinet.