"'Election Goal Achieved' Japan's Kishida Considers Cabinet Reshuffle and LDP Personnel Changes in Early September"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] In the House of Councillors (upper house) election held on the 10th, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito are expected to maintain a majority of the total seats (125 or more). According to reports from Mainichi Shimbun and Kyodo News, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to consider a cabinet reshuffle and LDP executive personnel changes in early September.

According to the reports, with the ruling party's majority seat acquisition in the House of Councillors election being almost certain, Prime Minister Kishida is expected to prepare a posture to promote his flagship policy of "New Capitalism." The government and the LDP are reportedly considering convening the first extraordinary Diet session after the House of Councillors election on the 3rd of next month, holding it for three days until the 5th. Prior to this, once the House of Councillors election is fully concluded, the election of the House of Councillors chairman will take place at the end of this month.

Kyodo News reported, "They will actively consider drafting a large supplementary budget to address rising prices and aim to convene the autumn extraordinary Diet session in October to pass it." It added, "While closely monitoring the impact of the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was the head of the largest faction within the party, they are expected to focus all efforts on strengthening the central point for establishing a long-term administration."

Mainichi reported that the cabinet reshuffle and LDP personnel changes are expected to proceed after overseas diplomatic schedules are completed. Prime Minister Kishida is scheduled to attend the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference opening on the 1st of next month at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, USA, and the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held in Tunisia later that month.

Mainichi also reported that the reappointment of Taro Aso, LDP Vice President (former Prime Minister) and Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary, who are core figures of the administration, is emerging. Attention is also focused on how personnel changes involving key party executives such as Toshimitsu Motegi, LDP Secretary-General, and Sanae Takaichi, Chairperson of the Policy Research Council, will unfold. There is also a strong intention to appoint a minister responsible for realizing startup support, one of the pillars of New Capitalism, and it is reported that the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is likely to concurrently take on this role.

The Japanese weekly magazine News Post Seven reported on the 8th that the cabinet personnel changes are expected to be influenced by the stabbing and death of former Prime Minister Abe. It stated that Prime Minister Kishida will face difficult decisions regarding Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, Abe’s younger brother, and Policy Research Council Chairperson Sanae Takaichi, both of whom were rumored to be replaced. Both figures were appointed to their posts through Abe’s influence; concerns have been raised about Defense Minister Kishi’s health deterioration making him unsuitable for the role, while Takaichi, amid conflicts with Secretary-General Motegi, is seen as a potential successor to Abe, according to the publication.