Japan’s incoming prime minister Shigeru Ishiba to call snap election – reports

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic party and prime minister-to-be, holds a press conference in Tokyo. He is expected to call a snap election. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Japan’s incoming prime minister Shigeru Ishiba is poised to call a snap election for the end of the month, according to media reports, days after he promised to lift his party’s dwindling fortunes and “put a smile” back on the faces of the public.

Ishiba, a moderate who saw off a rightwing challenge on Friday to become the new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP), will be approved as prime minister in parliament on Tuesday and appoint his cabinet later the same day.