Japan's Kishida likely to retain finance minister in reshuffle - sources (updated)

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries

09/08/2022 05:00

(Recasts lead with source confirmation on finance minister,
adds details)
    TOKYO, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio
Kishida is set to retain Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki in a
cabinet reshuffle this week, government and ruling party sources
said on Tuesday, as local media said his current foreign
minister would also stay on.
    The reshuffle, earlier than previously expected, comes as
Kishida's administration faces tumbling support rates. The
government has come under increasing public scrutiny on the
relationship between the Unification Church religious group and
ruling party lawmakers, including former Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe, gunned down last month at a campaign rally.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2ZI02F
    Support for Kishida's cabinet slid to the lowest level since
he took office last October, down to 46% from 59% three weeks
ago, NHK public broadcaster said on Monday, results in line with
other recent surveys.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2ZK1Q2
    The sources who told Reuters about Finance Minister Suzuki
declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.
    Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda is expected to be shifted
to a position outside the cabinet, the Yomiuri Shimbun daily
said, without naming its sources. The paper said Hagiuda would
most likely become chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic
Party's (LDP) policy research committee.
    Hagiuda is a member of the LDP's largest faction, led by Abe
until his July 8 killing. His move would highlight the
importance of that faction and help strengthen defence policy, a
key current issue for Japan given tensions surrounding China and
Taiwan.
    One of Kishida's advisers, Minoru Terada, and upper house
lawmaker Naoki Okada are expected to be appointed to the cabinet
for the first time, the Yomiuri added, without saying what they
will do there.
    Kishida is also expected to retain Foreign Minister
Yoshimasa Hayashi, multiple domestic media reports said. Defence
Minister Nobuo Kishi is expected to be replaced due to health
issues. 
    Kishida also intends to retain Taro Aso, the vice president
of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and chief cabinet
secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, media said. 
    Kishida said over the weekend he would reshuffle his cabinet
to address issues including rising COVID-19 infections, but
analysts say the move is also aimed at trying to halt the plunge
in support rates.
    Opinion poll respondents have also expressed objections to
plans to hold a state funeral in September, for Abe, Japan's
longest-serving but divisive premier. Respondents have in
addition said political parties and lawmakers have not
sufficiently explained their ties with the Unification Church. 

 (Reporting by Yoshifumi Takemoto and David Dolan; Editing by
Sam Holmes, Stephen Coates and Kenneth Maxwell)
 ((david.dolan@tr.com; +81 3 6441 1526; Reuters Messaging:
david.dolan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))