Japan’s Cabinet resigns to make way for new PM

Japan’s incoming Prime Minister and leader of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shinzo Abe (C) poses with his party’s new executives: Seiko Noda (L), Masahiko Komura (2nd L), Shigeru Ishiba (2nd R) and Sanae Takaichi (R) at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on December 25, 2012. Abe will return as the country’s new prime minister and form his cabinet on December 26. AFP / Yoshikazu TSUNO

TOKYO — Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s Cabinet has resigned to clear the way for a vote in parliament to formally install conservative Shinzo Abe as Japan’s new leader.

The chief government spokesman said the Cabinet resigned in a special meeting Wednesday morning.

Abe led his conservative Liberal Democratic Party to victory in elections Dec. 16 after three years in opposition. He was to be named prime minister later Wednesday for his second turn at the nation’s helm. He was also prime minister in 2006-2007.

He has vowed to take bold measures to shore up the economy, deal with a swelling national debt and come up with a recovery plan following last year’s devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crises.