Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday that he was considering acting as foreign minister himself until a new cabinet was formed later this month, as the incumbent foreign minister was set to take over a key ruling party post.

Kishida has tapped Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for the No. 2 post in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a powerful role that includes shaping policy.

The LDP will convene an executive board meeting later on Thursday to confirm the appointment.

Kishida led the LDP to better-than-expected election results on Sunday, with the party retaining its strong majority in the lower house.

The parliament is set to convene a special session on November 10 to confirm Kishida as prime minister. He is expected to name a new cabinet, which is likely to remain largely unchanged except for the post of foreign minister, shortly afterwards.

"Until the new cabinet, I am thinking of working as foreign minister as well," Kishida, who previously served as foreign minister, told reporters.