Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi coordinates the continued appointment of Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki due to cabinet reshuffle and personnel changes to party executives

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (Liberal Democratic Party President) has begun making arrangements to have Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki continue in his role regarding the cabinet reshuffle and personnel changes to party executives, which will be considered from the 16th to the 18th. This was announced by multiple administration officials on the 3rd. Deputy Governor Taro Aso and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara are also expected to remain in office. The prime minister aims to maintain the framework of his government and stabilize its foundations, with an eye on re-election in the presidential election next fall.

Foretelling the fate of “Liberal Democratic Party executives and cabinet personnel” for the autumn political situation [Pointillism/Nagatacho]

Mr. Suzuki is the brother-in-law of Mr. Aso, who supports the government, and belongs to the only faction within the party, the Aso faction. It cannot be said that the prime minister has a strong trust in him, and there were speculations that he would be replaced, but he was also the chief secretary when he won a landslide victory in the House of Representatives election in February, and the prime minister seems to have decided that it would be better to show that he values ​​both Suzuki and Aso.

Mr. Kihara shares conservative political beliefs with the prime minister. He has been involved in important government decisions. He is a member of the former Mogi faction, which is considered to be the mainstream faction within the party, and also plays a liaison role with the Japan Restoration Party.

Regarding the recent personnel changes, a Liberal Democratic Party official pointed out that ``there is no need to make major changes,'' citing the cabinet's solid approval rating. There is a view within the party that the prime minister will continue to treat ``post-Takaichi'' candidates such as Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Policy Research Council Chairman Takayuki Kobayashi, and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Mogi. The treatment of important cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, is also a focus.

Furthermore, the Meiji Restoration plan is to have members of the Cabinet join the Cabinet and shift from cooperation outside the Cabinet to cooperation within the Cabinet. The prime minister will coordinate the selection of personnel and posts with the Meiji Restoration side. Representative Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters at the Osaka Prefectural Office on the 3rd that he would like to decide on posts that would lead to a coalition government agreement in consultation with the prime minister.

The prime minister is considering implementing the changes, including changes to vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries, between the 16th and 18th. If the Cabinet decision on the outline of the tax reform, which includes a consumption tax cut on food products, is delayed, it could happen later this month, after the prime minister returns from attending the United Nations General Assembly in the United States.