Ruling parties eye Feb. 18 Diet session to pick Japan PM after election

The Japanese government and the ruling parties are considering convening a special parliamentary session on Feb. 18 to choose the prime minister following the weekend House of Representatives election, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.The newly elected leader will then attend a ceremony of appointment at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and launch a Cabinet. Media polls suggest the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party will hold on to power.During the special Diet session, the LDP and its junior coalition ally, the Japan Innovation Party, are p…READ FULL ARTICLE