Tokyo, Sept. 21 (Jiji Press)–Former Japanese internal affairs minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is drawing attention within the country’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party over his next move after leaving the cabinet in a reshuffle on Thursday. Of the four candidates who ran against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the LDP leadership election last autumn, Hayashi was the only one not to remain in either a cabinet or senior party post in the latest personnel changes. He also quickly announced his intention to continue his regional tours. Those close to the prime minister are increasingly wary that Hayashi could emerge as a rallying point for forces opposed to Takaichi in the party leadership election next autumn. “I don’t want this to become tomorrow morning’s headline, so let me just say that I don’t know yet what I’ll do that far down the road,” Hayashi said at a lecture in Tokyo on Friday when asked whether he was interested in running in the leadership election, leaving the possibility open. Noting that he visited 26 of Japan’s 47 prefectures while serving as internal affairs minister, Hayashi also expressed his eagerness to continue traveling around the country. “There are 21 left,” he said. “I’d like to create opportunities to hear what people in those regions have to say.” Takaichi’s aim in the latest personnel changes was to solidify her chances of re-election in next year’s party leadership race. Seeking to keep her rivals close, she decided early on to retain Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Takayuki Kobayashi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, all of whom ran against her last year. But a decision on Hayashi’s position took longer. One possible factor was a view, as expressed by a younger LDP lawmaker, that “even if Hayashi were kept in the cabinet, it wouldn’t change his determination to run.” It remains unclear whether Takaichi did not ask Hayashi to stay in the cabinet or whether he turned down such a request. At Friday’s lecture, Hayashi was asked whether he had not indicated a desire to stay on in a questionnaire about preferred posts and whether he and Takaichi had parted on bad terms. He sidestepped the questions, saying, “I won’t comment on personnel matters.” There is little doubt, however, that leaving the cabinet has given Hayashi a free hand ahead of the leadership election. A former cabinet minister close to Hayashi said, “He’ll travel around the country and gather allies.” Hayashi’s policy positions also contrast with those of Takaichi. While the prime minister has taken a notably tough stance toward China, Hayashi formerly headed a group of Japanese lawmakers promoting friendship with China. He has also been cautious about Takaichi’s plan to cut the consumption tax on food. During the lecture, Hayashi referred to collective cabinet responsibility over the proposed tax cut but called on the government to “clarify the funding sources as soon as possible.” Hayashi is close to former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has distanced himself from Takaichi, and has also held repeated meetings with former LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama and former internal affairs minister Ryota Takeda. There is speculation within the LDP that Hayashi could rally anti-Takaichi forces and square off against the prime minister in next year’s leadership election. “If it comes down to a head-to-head race, the anti-Takaichi votes will go to Hayashi,” an aide to Takaichi said. “Figuring out how to deal with Hayashi will be a challenge from here on.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
