Weaknesses of ``Top 1 High City'' exposed; material for deciding whether to resign has not reached the Prime Minister

This is the first cabinet reshuffle since the government took office, exposing the weaknesses of the ``top city''. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had not received any information that would directly lead to a decision on his dismissal, such as the suspicion that former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yanakazu was given a free bus ride, or the possibility that a resolution to censure him would be passed in the House of Councilors. Given the prime minister's tendency to handle important matters by himself, his lack of crisis management skills is likely to cast a shadow over the future of his administration.

Mr. Yan's resignation as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party's Mr. Nishida and Prime Minister Takaichi are also criticized

"Power is concentrated in the prime minister's hands, and those around him cannot say anything." A senior Liberal Democratic Party official pointed out the following about the current state of the administration.

Regarding Mr. Yan, during questions asked by representatives of the House of Representatives from the 7th to 9th, the prime minister stated that he had instructed him to continue in the post, saying, ``Work and give back in return.'' However, at the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on the 13th, when allegations that Yan's camp violated the Public Offices Election Act by transporting supporters in free buses during the House of Representatives election came into focus, he made a 180-degree change in his stance, saying, ``Today's bus was brought up.If there is any illegality, I will not hesitate (to decide whether to advance or retreat).''

Daily Shincho and Bunshun Online reported on Yan's ``budget cut'' remarks at the end of September. The bus scandal was reported on the 7th of this month. After the Budget Committee on the 13th, a senior government official explained, ``It seems that the Prime Minister does not read weekly magazines.'' He revealed that he did not tell the Prime Minister, saying, ``I read it, but there would be no end to it if I reported it one by one.'' This means that the prime minister made the decision to continue serving without understanding the possibility of violating the Public Elections Act.

Additionally, an LDP source said, ``We were unable to grasp that if a resolution of censure was introduced, it would likely pass.'' The ruling party has less than a majority in the House of Councilors, and if the opposition parties unite, it will move closer to passing the bill. Many believe that the removal of Junichi Ishii, a powerful man with strong ties to the opposition party, from the post of House of Councilors secretary-general in the recent reshuffle was the prime minister's intention.

The administration's crisis management could determine the fate of the prime minister. In the Abe administration, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga is in charge. Together with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Hagiuda and Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Naoya Imai, he is said to have been keeping an eye on the government and the ruling and opposition parties, and conveying sensitive information to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He once dismissed a cabinet minister who made a gaffe within hours. Prime Minister Takaichi has an important role in Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, but he does not have the same close ties with Mr. Abe and Mr. Suga.

Many people within the Liberal Democratic Party believe that ``the Prime Minister's foundation within the party will not immediately collapse'' due to Yan's dismissal (according to a source). However, a former cabinet minister said that the administration, which had been going smoothly, ``might have started going backwards,'' and ``If this situation continues, what will happen to the party presidential election next fall?''