Naoto Kan, a co-founder of Japan's Democratic Party today became the new prime minister of the world's second largest economy. Kan, 63, who was deputy prime minister and finance minister, was picked up to head the ruling party to succeed Yukio Hatoyama who bowed out of office over his handling of a dispute over a major US base in the country. Kyodo news agency reported that Kan was formally endorsed as new prime minister by the country's Parliament, after he emerged as a new head of the ruling party defeating his little known rival Shinji Tarutoko, by a vote of 291-129. The new prime minister in his first utterance after election as new party head said he would aim to create a political environment free from money scandals, an indication that he would distance himself from the ruling party's scandal-tainted kingpin Ichiro Ozawa. Advising Ozawa to come clean, the prime minister said the party kingpin should take responsibility for causing public distrust due to fundraising scandal. In a statement released after his victory, the prime minister while emphasising Japan's alliance with the US, said that he would make continued efforts to reduce the US military presence on the Okinawa base.