The Liberal Democratic Party elected hawkish former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as its new president Wednesday, pinning its hopes on him to guide the party back into power in the next general election.

The race was especially important as recent polls suggest the LDP, the largest opposition party, could eclipse the ruling Democratic Party of Japan’s majority in the next Lower House election, which must be held by summer 2013. Under that scenario, Abe, whose term as party president is three years, would become the nation’s next leader.

The former prime minister came from behind in a runoff to defeat ex-defense chief Shigeru Ishiba by a vote of 108-89.

But despite his victory, strong internal and public criticism has stigmatized Abe, who quit as prime minister in 2007 while suffering from ulcerative colitis, which he insists is cured now.

At age 52, Abe became Japan’s youngest leader in postwar history in 2006. Now, at 58, he is expected to push Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, 55, and the DPJ to dissolve the Lower House as soon as possible for a snap election.

At a news conference later Wednesday, Abe said he was willing to negotiate with Noda to overcome the deadlock in the Diet. At the end of August, the LDP and several other opposition parties slapped Noda with a censure motion and refused to hold deliberations in the Diet, which recessed on Sept. 8.

“The Upper House expressed its will and Prime Minister Noda should take it seriously. But at the same time, I don’t intend to reject all discussions. . . . We are not a party that puts party politics first at any cost,” Abe said.

The new LDP president is intent on revising the Constitution and has vowed to protect Japanese territorial claims amid strains with neighboring China and South Korea over the sovereignty of disputed islands.

Analysts and some LDP lawmakers, however, have expressed concerns that Abe’s hawkish streak could worsen the disputes.

The LDP race had five candidates but none took a first-round majority, prompting a runoff with the top two candidates Å\ Abe and Ishiba.

A total of 498 ballots were cast in the first round of the election, with Diet members accounting for 198 and local party chapters 300.

Ishiba, backed by the local chapters, catapulted to an overwhelming first-round victory, garnering 165 votes to Abe’s 87. Ishiba, however, was only able to collect 34 of the lawmakers votes while Abe won 54.

But in the runoff, Abe bounced back on the strength of his party ties, besting Ishiba 108-89 in a vote restricted to Diet members.

MASAMI ITO, Japan Times staff writer, September 27, 2012