TOKYO—Yoshihide Suga was elected Japan’s first new prime minister in almost eight years, ushering in a rare period of political uncertainty as the country seeks to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, navigate rising U.S.-China tensions and prepare for the Olympics in Tokyo next year.
“What the people want is a quick end to the coronavirus pandemic and an economic recovery,” Mr. Suga said at his first press conference as prime minister. “That’s what my cabinet will put every effort into first and foremost.”
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