LDP Policy Head Kobayashi Seen Retaining Key Post in Reshuffle

Tokyo, Sept. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering keeping Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in a key post in planned reshuffles of her cabinet and the executive lineup of the LDP, informed sources said Monday. Kobayashi may be retained in his current post or given an important ministerial position in the reshuffles expected to take place as early as mid-September. LDP parliamentary affairs chief Hiroshi Kajiyama may also be retained or given a cabinet post. Takaichi plans to keep Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in his current post, while Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is also likely to be retained. She appears to be seeking to maintain close ties with party members who may seek to succeed her, including Kobayashi, ahead of the LDP presidential election next autumn, analysts said. Kobayashi visited the prime minister’s office with LDP Executive Acting Secretary-General Koichi Hagiuda on Monday and held talks with Takaichi for about an hour over lunch. He told reporters that they discussed how to strengthen the party’s organization. In the previous session of parliament, Kobayashi worked to pass bills that were contentious both within and outside the party, including legislation to criminalize acts of damaging Japan’s national flag and legislation to establish a secondary capital. He also worked with LDP Vice President Taro Aso to revise the Imperial House Law, deepening his relationship with the key backer of the Takaichi administration in the process. Kobayashi was the only member of the party leadership team who regularly met with the prime minister. The regular meetings began after he told Takaichi last autumn, when he assumed his post, that he would “come every week.” He has since served as a liaison in the somewhat uneasy relationship between the party and the prime minister’s office. Kobayashi finished fourth in the first round of last year’s LDP presidential election, which Takaichi won. He has raised his profile by surrounding himself with novice and middle-ranking party members well versed in policy, prompting those close to the prime minister to voice concern that “he may become too powerful if he stays in his position for a long time.” Kajiyama, who is close to Motegi, handled negotiations with opposition parties, reflecting Takaichi’s reluctance to attend parliamentary meetings. Takaichi held talks with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara ahead of the reshuffles at the prime minister’s official residence on Sunday, and talked with LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki at the prime minister’s office on Monday. She is seen maintaining the administration’s core makeup, with Aso, Suzuki, Kihara and Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama expected to remain in their posts. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]