Not-so-new government: Abe to retain most ministers in cabinet shake-up

Not-so-new government: Abe to retain most ministers in cabinet shake-up

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seems to be taking an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to cabinet and party leadership reshuffles next week, as he looks set to keep veterans in their posts.

     Abe’s focus is to prevent policy blunders ahead of next year’s upper house election. But this would also limit his options, preventing him from tapping untested newcomers who could reinvigorate the Liberal Democratic Party.

     Abe will retain four top LDP executives, including Secretary-General Sadakazu Tanigaki. Vice President Masahiko Komura will also stay. On the cabinet side, Abe has decided to hold on to Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani.

     Recent history seems to contribute to Abe’s allergy to major staff changes. Calling for women’s empowerment in society, he appointed Yuko Obuchi as minister of economy, trade and industry and Midori Matsushima as justice minister when he last formed a new cabinet in September 2014. But both stepped down after only about a month and a half in office amid separate allegations of wrongdoing.

     As Abe favors consistency and stability ahead of next summer’s upper house election, veteran politicians hoping for cabinet spots are largely out of luck. He has already settled on sticking with half of his existing cabinet appointees, leaving little room for newcomers. Among LDP legislators who were elected at least five times in the lower house and at least three times in the upper house, 66 are still waiting for their first cabinet stints. Roughly 400 LDP members serve in the Diet.

     Since the fight for the new security legislation took a toll on the administration’s poll numbers, Abe is focusing intently on restoring his party’s image. But complaints and resentment in his own ranks are obstructing those efforts.

     Abe had mulled giving LDP policy chief Tomomi Inada a cabinet position. Inada’s views are close to Abe’s, and he had sought to groom her as a strong female candidate to succeed him. But even those in the faction Abe belonged to complained that the prime minister was giving Inada preferential treatment, eventually forcing him to keep Inada in her current post. Those in Abe’s circles say Inada will have to beef up her resume to win over her adversaries to be ready for next time.

(Nikkei)

Not-so-new government: Abe to retain most ministers in cabinet shake-up