Takaichi to Pick Suzuki, Kobayashi, Aso for Key LDP Posts

Tokyo, Oct. 6 (Jiji Press)–Sanae Takaichi, new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is slated to launch a new party leadership team Tuesday, picking General Council Chairman Shunichi Suzuki, 72, as secretary-general, and former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 50, as chairman of the Policy Research Council. Takaichi, who was elected LDP president Saturday to succeed Shigeru Ishiba, also the country’s outgoing prime minister, plans to appoint former Prime Minister Taro Aso, 85, as vice president, and former Policy Research Council Chairman Koichi Hagiuda, 62, as executive acting secretary-general. Former Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, 56, is seen assuming the position of chief cabinet secretary if Takaichi is elected prime minister. The new LDP president is set to name Haruko Arimura, 55, former minister in charge of measures to shore up the birthrate, as General Council chair and former National Public Safety Commission Chairman Keiji Furuya, 72, as chairman of the LDP’s Election Strategy Committee. Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama, 69, is expected to be tapped as Diet Affairs Committee chairman. Hagiuda was a member of a now-defunct intraparty faction once led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, where a high-profile “slush funds” scandal took place. Takaichi has indicated that she plans to pick lawmakers related to the political fund scandal. For ministerial appointments for her potential cabinet, Takaichi is expected to choose former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 69, for a key post such as foreign minister. Agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 64, are also likely to join the new cabinet. Motegi, Kobayashi, Koizumi and Hayashi ran against Takaichi in Saturday’s LDP presidential election. Motegi instructed former members of his now-defunct LDP faction to vote for Takaichi in the runoff between her and Koizumi. Furuya served as chief for LDP lawmakers backing Takaichi in the election. Kihara, a former Motegi faction member, and Takaichi both espouse conservative political stances. Kajiyama led Motegi’s campaign headquarters for the LDP race. Takaichi is expected to summon the LDP’s four new key party executives and others after entering the party’s headquarters on Tuesday morning. After that, her personnel plans will be approved at a meeting of the General Council. In the afternoon, Takaichi and other executives will meet with senior member of the LDP’s coalition partner, Komeito, including its leader, Tetsuo Saito. To maintain their coalition government, the two parties have exchanged memorandums of agreement after the past changes of LDP president and elections for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, or Japanese parliament. Some Komeito lawmakers are calling for cautiously proceeding with talks with the LDP this time, in order to assess Takaichi’s stances on government management and possible expansion of the coalition. In light of this, the opening of an extraordinary session of the Diet and parliamentary votes to elect the country’s new prime minister may be postponed from the currently planned Oct. 15. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]