Parliament has elected Shinzo Abe as prime minister to replace Junichiro Koizumi, the speakers of the lower and upper houses announced. Abe won a clear majority of the votes in both houses. "Our house decided to name Mr. Shinzo Abe as prime minister," said the Speaker of the lower house, Yohei Kono, after the votes were counted in the 480-seat chamber. Abe garnered 339 of the 476 votes cast in the lower house. His nearest rival, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, Ichiro Ozawa, picked up 115 votes. "Our house also decided to name Mr. Shinzo Abe as prime minister," said the Speaker of the upper house, Chikage Ohgi, after the votes were counted in the 242-seat chamber. Abe secured 136 of the 240 votes cast in the upper house. Ozawa got 85.