Japan’s leading opposition party on Saturday chose as its new president Yukio Hatoyama, a blue-blooded former leader who was backed by his scandal-hit predecessor, Ichiro Ozawa.

In an election restricted to the Democratic party of Japan’s 221 sitting members of parliament, fourth-generation politician Mr Hatoyama beat rival Katsuya Okada by 124 votes to 95 to win the chance to lead the DPJ into a potentially pivotal general election expected to be held by autumn at the latest.