LDP Secretary-General Key in Cabinet, Party Reshuffle by Takaichi

Tokyo, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has started considering reshuffling her cabinet and the executive lineup at the Liberal Democratic Party possibly in September, with the treatment of Shunichi Suzuki, current secretary-general of the ruling party, believed to be a focal issue, informed sources have said. Through the shake-ups, Takaichi apparently aims to reinforce her standing in the LDP to secure re-election as its president in a party leadership poll to be conducted ahead of the expiration of her current term in September 2027, at a time when public support for her cabinet is falling and a rift within the party is evident over a planned cut in the consumption tax rate for food to 1 pct from 8 pct for two years from next April. Secretary-general of the LDP is a pivotal position sustaining an administration led by the party. On Friday, Takaichi met with Suzuki and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara for about 20 minutes at the prime minister’s office. An informed source said that they exchanged opinions on personnel affairs and an extraordinary session of the Diet, or parliament, expected to be convened in autumn this year. Suzuki belongs to the LDP’s only remaining faction, led by party Vice President Taro Aso, a key supporter of the Takaichi administration, and is a brother-in-law of Aso. But the secretary-general has not obtained full confidence from Takaichi. The prime minister did not consult Suzuki in advance when she dissolved the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, in January for a general election. In addition, Suzuki apparently did not engage in active coordination between the prime minister’s office and the opposition camp when parliamentary business was stalled in the late phase of the last Diet session. Takaichi has voiced frustration at Suzuki, according to sources close to the prime minister. Some speculate that LDP Executive Acting Secretary-General Koichi Hagiuda, who was a member of a now-defunct intraparty faction once led by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, could be a successor to Suzuki. Hagiuda has good relations with LDP heavyweights including Aso and is highly rated for his coordination skills after serving in key positions. There also are expectations that he would be able to help strengthen communication between the party and the prime minister’s office. At a memorial gathering for Abe, who died in July 2022, last month, Hagiuda said, “I want to support the Takaichi administration with all my strength within the party.” Commenting on this, a party official said that Hagiuda “ran for secretary-general.” However, he has come under fire for his involvement in the so-called slush funds scandal at the party. Aso’s view is likely to hold the key to the secretary-general appointment. A middle-ranking LDP official close to Takaichi said: “(The prime minister) should not make an enemy of Aso. Suzuki and Kihara will likely be retained.” A veteran member said, “It is difficult to replace Aso and Suzuki, considering next year’s party presidential election.” Many said that Takaichi may also consider how she should treat potential candidates for her successor, such as Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, internal affairs minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and LDP Policy Research Council head Takayuki Kobayashi. If she keeps them in the administration, Takaichi will be able to block their candidacies in the LDP presidential election, some said. Meanwhile, the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP’s ally, which has been cooperating with the Takaichi administration from outside the cabinet since the two parties formed a coalition agreement last October, plans to seek a ministerial post in the expected cabinet reshuffle. Some JIP members are seeking the post of internal affairs minister, which is in charge of the law for establishing the country’s secondary capital. JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura plans to talk with Takaichi about the possible cabinet reshuffle in advance. A close aide to Takaichi predicted that the prime minister will take the circumstances in the LDP into consideration on a priority basis in the reshuffles of the cabinet and the party executive lineup, adding, “A lineup reflecting Takaichi’s own choices will be realized after she is re-elected (LDP president).” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]