参院議長、関口氏で調整　自民、議員会長は武見氏検討

　自民党は１日、体調不良を理由に辞任の意向を固めている尾辻秀久参院議長（８４）の後任に、関口昌一参院議員会長（７１）を推す方向で調整に入った。複数の党関係者が明らかにした。参院では与党が過半数を維持しているため、立憲民主党は比較第１党からの議長選出を了承しており、関口氏は１１日召集予定の特別国会で新議長に選ばれる見通しだ。
　関口氏の後任には武見敬三前厚生労働相（７２）を充てる方向で検討が進んでいる。（2024/11/01-18:54）

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is planning to push Masakazu Sekiguchi as the next president of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, several party sources said Friday.
   Sekiguchi, 71, who currently leads LDP members in the Upper House, would succeed current Upper House President Hidehisa Otsuji, who plans to step down for health reasons.
   As the LDP-Komeito coalition has a majority in the parliamentary chamber, Sekiguchi is expected to be elected at a special Diet session to be convened on Nov. 11.
   His current post is likely to be filled by former welfare minister Keizo Takemi, 72.
   Sekiguchi was first elected to the Upper House in a by-election in the Saitama prefectural constituency in 2003. He assumed his current post in 2019, after serving in government and party posts including parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs.