Finance chief Kan elected Japan ruling party leader, seen as next prime minister

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Finance chief Kan elected Japan ruling party head

TOKYO — Japan’s ruling party has elected former Finance Minister Naoto Kan as its new leader, paving the way for him to become the next prime minister.

As expected, Kan won the presidency of the Democratic Party of Japan. He will almost certainly be installed as prime minister later Friday because the party controls a majority in the more powerful lower house of parliament.

Kan would succeed Yukio Hatoyama, who resigned Wednesday amid dismal approval ratings over broken campaign promises.