Takaichi Reportedly Weighs Cabinet Shakeup and Party Reshuffle as Early as 16th... Focus on Stability

▲ Prime Minister Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering executing a cabinet reshuffle and ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership appointments as early as the 16th, Kyodo News reported today (the 7th).

According to multiple sources, the Prime Minister's Office of Japan informed the LDP that Prime Minister Takaichi will be granted full authority over party executive appointments during an LDP executive meeting on the 15th.

Following the acquisition of full authority on the 15th, she reportedly plans to carry out the party leadership reshuffle, cabinet reorganization, and appointments of vice ministers and parliamentary vice ministers from the 16th to the 18th.

In addition, Kyodo News reported that this reshuffle and cabinet overhaul are expected to take place after the Cabinet approves the "Tax Reform Outline," which forms the backbone of the food consumption tax cut bill currently pursued by the Takaichi administration.

The Takaichi administration plans to submit a bill to the extraordinary Diet session convened in early next month to lower the food consumption tax from the current 8% to 1% starting April of next year.

Prime Minister Takaichi is scheduled to visit New York, United States, in late this month to attend the United Nations General Assembly, and the appointments and cabinet reshuffle are expected to be carried out before her visit to the U.S.

In this LDP reshuffle, Prime Minister Takaichi is expected to reappoint key party figures, including Vice President Taro Aso and Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki.

As for the cabinet, core members such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi are also reported to have a high possibility of retaining their posts.

This is seen as placing emphasis on stability rather than change, interpreted as an intention to solidify her intra-party foundation with an eye toward reelection in next year's party leadership election.

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