PM Takaichi Eyes Cabinet Reshuffle in Mid- or Late Sept.

Tokyo, Aug. 21 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to reshuffle her cabinet and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s executive lineup in mid- or late September, informed sources said Friday. This would be the first cabinet reshuffle since Takaichi took office last October. Takaichi aims to prepare an environment that will help her win another term as LDP president in the 2027 party leadership election. She is expected to decide the timing of the reshuffle based on her political schedule. The government plans to adopt a tax reform package including a consumption tax cut for food in mid-September. The Okinawa gubernatorial election, which the ruling bloc sees as important, will be held Sept. 13. The prime minister is expected to attend a U.N. General Assembly session in the United States in late September. “A personnel reshuffle is likely after (the adoption of) the tax system reform package,” said an LDP source. In a potential cabinet reshuffle, Takaichi is likely to retain Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, a key member of her administration. Kihara is known as a conservative politician who is close to Takaichi and trusted by her. “Kihara is irreplaceable,” an aide to Takaichi said. Meanwhile, the prime minister plans to ask the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP’s coalition partner, to accept a cabinet position. In renewing the LDP executive lineup, a focal point will be whether Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki will remain in the post. Some speculate that Takaichi could promote Koichi Hagiuda, the current executive acting secretary-general, to secretary-general. Suzuki is a brother-in-law of LDP Vice President Taro Aso, who leads the only remaining faction in the LDP. Within the party, Aso’s support is seen as essential for Takaichi to secure her second term as LDP president. Attention will also be paid to how Takaichi treats Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, internal affairs minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi. They competed with Takaichi in last year’s party leadership race. A senior LDP member said that Hayashi may want to leave the cabinet to run in the next party leadership election. On Thursday, the LDP distributed questionnaires to party members in the House of Representatives, asking about their desired positions, with the deadline set for Tuesday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]