Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election by a comfortable margin on Thursday, setting the stage to become Japan's longest-serving leader and pursue his ambition of amending the pacifist Constitution during his next three-year term.Abe defeated his sole rival, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, by securing 553 votes to Ishiba's 254 in the election, which in effect decides Japan's next prime minister because the ruling party and its coalition partner Komeito control majorities in both Diet chambers.Of 807 total valid votes, Abe won 329 out of bal…READ FULL ARTICLE
