World / IN BRIEF: JAPAN : Premier Reelected as Ruling Party Chief

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi easily won reelection as head of his party, ensuring that Japan will continue public spending to spur economic recovery. He had pledged to pass a substantial economy-boosting package as soon as he won reelection. The head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party automatically becomes premier because the party controls the majority in parliament. Obuchi won 350 votes, about 70% of those cast in the three-way contest. Former party Secretary-General Koichi Kato won 113 votes, while former Construction Minister Taku Yamasaki had 51. Since taking office last year, Obuchi has pushed through massive public spending programs to spur economic growth.