Takaichi Cabinet Set to Be Launched Tues. Evening

Tokyo, Oct. 21 (Jiji Press)–Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is expected to launch her cabinet Tuesday evening after being elected new prime minister by the Diet, the country’s parliament, the same day. Takaichi is almost certain to win Diet nomination as prime minister to succeed outgoing Shigeru Ishiba, as the LDP has agreed with opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) to form a new coalition government. Nippon Ishin is set to replace Komeito as the LDP’s partner, and a new coalition government between the LDP and Nippon Ishin is poised to kick off. Votes to pick a new prime minister at the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, and the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, are slated to take place early Tuesday afternoon. The Diet was convened into an extraordinary session Tuesday for a 58-day run through Dec. 17. Takaichi would be the country’s first female prime minister. She was elected LDP president Oct. 4. Takaichi attended a meeting of LDP executives Tuesday morning and made last-minute preparations to decide a roster of her expected cabinet. She plans to pick former Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, 56, as chief cabinet secretary and economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, 64, who led Japan’s tariff negotiations with the United States earlier this year, as minister of economy, trade and industry, informed sources said. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, will likely be appointed defense minister, and former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 70, is seen to be named foreign minister, the sources said. Current Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 64, is also likely to be given a ministerial post. Koizumi, Motegi and Hayashi were rival candidates of Takaichi in the latest LDP presidential election. LDP Lower House member Norikazu Suzuki, 43, is expected to become agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister. Hiroshi Hiraguchi, 77, a Lower House member of the LDP, and Takao Makino, 66, an LDP lawmaker in the Upper House, are likely to obtain ministerial posts for the first time, according to the sources. Takaichi appears eager to pick women for her cabinet, with former regional revitalization minister Satsuki Katayama, 66, and former Justice Minister Midori Matsushima, 69, likely among candidates, the sources said. Takaichi’s cabinet is seen to be launched Tuesday evening following the attestation ceremonies for the new prime minister and cabinet members. Later in the day, Takaichi will hold her inaugural news conference at the prime minister’s office to unveil her administration’s basic policies. At the first meeting of her cabinet, Takaichi is expected to instruct her ministers to compile a package of economy-boosting measures. The LDP plans to set the new prime minister’s policy address at the Diet for Oct. 24, according to the sources. Question-and-answer sessions over Takaichi’s policy address are expected to take place in November, after a series of important diplomatic events, including summits related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Malaysia and an expected visit to Japan by U.S. President Donald Trump, the sources said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]