Now is a critical time for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Taro Aso, the newly elected party president, needs to get serious and face up to important issues in a speedy and bold manner.

Aso scored an overwhelming victory in Monday's party leadership election to become the 23rd LDP president, defeating four other candidates -Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy; Yuriko Koike, former defense minister; Nobuteru Ishihara, former chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council; and Shigeru Ishiba, former defense minister.

Aso is set to be named prime minister at an extraordinary Diet session that convenes today.