Japan PM seeks to reshuffle cabinet

Source:AFP Published: 2014-9-3 0:23:01

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was expected to reshuffle his cabinet on Wednesday to re-energize his economic and security agenda after once-stellar approval ratings began to wane.

The staunch conservative had enjoyed sky-high public support when he came to power in December 2012 promising to kick-start Japan's sputtering economy.

But a series of bruising battles over a consumption tax hike and an unpopular move to water-down the pacifist constitution have taken some of the wind out of his sails.

A little less than two years into his tenure as prime minister, weeds of discontent in his often-fractious party are also beginning to emerge, as the restless ranks of politicians brought up on a system of age-based seniority agitate for a crack at a cabinet job.

Reports say Abe will retain the key figures of his administration - Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Finance Minister Taro Aso, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and State Minister in charge of economic revitalization and trade talks Akira Amari.

But lesser roles could be vacated to make room for key Liberal Democratic Party figures who might otherwise cause trouble for the prime minister if left to languish on the back benches.

It is also thought likely that Abe might put his money where his mouth is after months of speeches in which he has implored and inveighed Japan Inc. to boost the number of women in senior jobs.



Posted in: Asia-Pacific

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