Hawkish Liberal Democratic Party President Taro Aso was elected prime minister Wednesday and immediately formed his new Cabinet.

The new lineup, however, is short on high-profile politicians who can draw the votes necessary to drastically boost the Cabinet's standing in the opinion polls — a problem that plagued the crew of his moderate predecessor, Yasuo Fukuda, the second leader to resign in two years.

Former LDP policy chief Shoichi Nakagawa, a close ally of Aso who also is a right-leaning conservative, was named both finance minister and financial services minister in a double appointment.

Economic and fiscal policy minister Kaoru Yosano kept that post, while former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba was given the post of agriculture minister. Both ran against Aso in the LDP election.

Adding youth to the lineup was 34-year-old Yuko Obuchi, daughter of the late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, as minister in charge of tackling the birthrate problem. Obuchi is now the youngest Cabinet minister in postwar history.

Taking the post of chief Cabinet secretary — the prime minister's top assistant and government spokesman — is former education minister Takeo Kawamura. Kawamura, however, isn't used to dealing with the media spotlight, and some observers say he is too low-profile to fill the position at a time when an election is looming.

Former education minister Hirofumi Nakasone, son of powerful former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, was named foreign minister.

Seiko Noda, 48, who became the youngest Cabinet member when she was appointed posts and telecommunications minister at age 37, remained consumer affairs minister.

Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe and Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito of New Komeito also returned.

The post of education minister went to Lower House member Ryu Shionoya.