Japan PM Kishida to replace embattled reconstruction minister Akiba - NHK (updated)
26/12/2022 08:14
(Adds details throughout)
TOKYO, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Amid low approval ratings,
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will replace a government
minister for the fourth time since he created his current
cabinet in August, public broadcaster NHK reported on Monday.
Kenya Akiba, minister responsible for overseeing the
reconstruction of areas hit by Japan's massive earthquake and
tsunami in 2011, will be replaced by former financial services
agency minister Tatsuya Ito, the broadcaster said.
Akiba has battled accusations of being involved in violating
election laws as well as having ties with the Unification
Church.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's close links with the
religious group, which critics say is a cult, were revealed
after the killing of former premier Shinzo Abe and have been
cited by survey respondents as one reason for Kishida's low
approval ratings.
The Kyodo news agency reported on Friday that Kishida has
been considering swapping out some of his ministers in a bid to
boost his approval ratings.
"All I can say is that we must make the necessary
preparations for next year's diet (parliament) session. That's
all I can say," Kishida said on Monday when asked whether he
planned to replace Akiba.
The latter's office said it had nothing to say on the matter
when contacted for comment on the allegations.
Kishida also plans to replace Mio Sugita, his Parliamentary
Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs, Kyodo reported on Monday
citing multiple unidentified government sources.
In early December, Sugita retracted and apologised for a
number of past comments she had made previously, including
calling sexual minorities "unproductive".
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami and Rocky Swift; Editing by Shri
Navaratnam and Kenneth Maxwell)
((rocky.swift@thomsonreuters.com;))