Abe Reshuffles Cabinet in Bid to Reverse Slumping Approval
Politics- English
- 日本語
- 简体字
- 繁體字
- Français
- Español
- العربية
- Русский
Prime Minister Abe Shinzō reshuffled his cabinet on August 3, 2017, in an attempt to rejuvenate his slumping approval ratings. For the past several months Abe has seen public support for his administration steadily erode amid swirling allegations of favoritism in connection with the government approval of a veterinary school to be headed by one of his long-time friends. His popularity has also taken a hit from other areas, including a series of gaffes and a coverup scandal involving Defense Minister Inada Tomomi, who resigned her post in late July.
Abe hopes to keep his agenda on track, including plans to amend the Constitution, by showing his administration has turned a new page with the reshuffle. The prime minister also rearranged the executive arm of his own Liberal Democratic Party to reassert control and quell possible dissent among the ranks.
Asō and Suga Remain, Kishida Takes LDP Post
Minister of Finance Asō Tarō and Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide were among six key figures who retained their positions. Abe drew broadly from the LDP ranks for new posts and gave precedence to previous cabinet experience to bring stability and recast his administration in a more positive light. Notable additions include Kōno Tarō as minister for foreign affairs and Noda Seiko as minister of internal affairs and communications. However, the reshuffle reduces the number of female cabinet members from three to two. Ishii Keiichi, the cabinet’s one member from the LDP’s coalition partner Kōmeitō, remains in his post as minister of land, infrastructure, transport, and tourism.
In the LDP’s executive arm, Nikai Toshihiro retains his position as secretary-general and Takeshita Wataru replaces Hosoda Hiroyuki as chair of the LDP General Council. Kishida Fumio, who had been minister for foreign affairs, will chair the LDP Policy Research Council, and Shionoya Ryū will head the Election Strategy Committee.
The full cabinet is as follows.
Prime minister
Abe Shinzō
(unchanged)
Deputy prime minister
Minister of finance
Asō Tarō
(unchanged)
Minister of internal affairs and communications
Noda Seiko
Minister of justice
Kamikawa Yōko
Minister for foreign affairs
Kōno Tarō
Minister of education, culture, sport, science, and technology
Hayashi Yoshimasa
Minister of health, labor, and welfare
Katō Katsunobu
Minister of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
Saitō Ken
Minister of economy, trade, and industry
Sekō Hiroshige
(unchanged)
Minister of land, infrastructure, transport, and tourism
Ishii Keiichi
(unchanged)
Minister of the environment
Nakagawa Masaharu
Minister of defense
Onodera Itsunori
Chief cabinet secretary
Suga Yoshihide
(unchanged)
Minister for reconstruction
Yoshino Masayoshi
(unchanged)
Chair of the National Public Safety Commission
Okonogi Hachirō
Minister of state for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs
Esaki Tetsuma
Minister in charge of economic revitalization
Motegi Toshimitsu
Minister for promoting dynamic engagement of all citizens, science and technology policy
Matsuyama Masaji
Minister of state for overcoming population decline and reviving local economies
Kajiyama Hiroshi
Minister of state for Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
Suzuki Shun’ichi
(Banner photo: Prime Minister Abe Shinzō (second from left of front row) and the new cabinet after its first meeting in Tokyo on August 3, 2017. © Jiji.)