Japan’s upper house has elected a president from outside the ruling Liberal Democratic Party following the LDP’s rout in the July election. Satsuki Eda of the Democratic Party of Japan becomes the first opposition politician to hold the post. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in the job since last September, did not have to stand down following his election defeat because his ruling coalition has a big majority in the more powerful lower house.

Abe now plans a cabinet reshuffle after a string of scandals derailed his administration. One minister killed himself and three others were sacked or resigned as result of financial irregularities. As Abe attempts to steady the ship his justice minister Jinen Nagase has said he accepted money from a group that recruits foreign trainees for businesses after providing them with visa information.

He has since returned the funds.

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