Abe reshuffles cabinet as public support dips
TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled his cabinet on Thursday, appointing more veterans to key posts amid plunging public support for his government following a series of scandals.
During a news conference, Abe first offered apologies for increasing public distrust in his government over a series of scandals. “I’m deeply reflecting on” those scandals, the premier said.
Abe himself has come under fire after a former Education Ministry official revealed that the premier’s office pressured the ministry to push ahead with a heavily subsidised university project involving a longtime friend of Abe’s. The premier appointed Taro Kono, former administrative reform a minister, as foreign minister. Fumio Kishida, who served as foreign minister, has become chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) policymaking body.
Abe said Kono will boost JapanUS relations by holding security talks involving their foreign and defence chiefs in the near future.
Seiko Noda, a former postal minister, has been chosen for internal affairs minister, replacing Sanae Takaichi, Abe’s close ally.
Noda was considering challenging Abe in the 2015 intra-party race, but she was reportedly pressured not to do so. Abe retained some key cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.