Ichiro Ozawa gave in Friday and accepted appointment to the helm of the Democratic Party of Japan, replacing Naoto Kan, who resigned Monday to take responsibility for his past failure to pay mandatory premiums into the National Pension System.
Ozawa, deputy head of the DPJ, conveyed his intention to take the job in a Friday afternoon meeting with DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada at the Diet.
The DPJ will approve Ozawa's appointment Tuesday at a meeting of DPJ lawmakers from both Diet chambers. If someone else in the party decides to challenge him for the presidency, a vote will be held at the same meeting.
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