Japan Premier Wins New Term as Party Chief

TOKYO —  Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu on Friday won an extension until Oct. 30, 1991, of his term as president of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party.

The party had invited others to compete in an election for the post, but no one had filed against Kaifu when the deadline passed Friday.

At a convention at the end of this month, the party will formally approve the new term for Kaifu, 58, who was elected in August to serve the unexpired three months remaining in the term of his predecessor, Noboru Takeshita.

To remain as prime minister until 1991, however, Kaifu must lead his party to a victory in crucial elections for the lower house of Parliament. Those elections must be held by next July but are expected to take place earlier. The lower house chooses the prime minister.