Japanese Prime Minister and LDP president Sanae Takaichi made a small reshuffle
of senior party posts at a special general affairs meeting on the morning of the
16th, keeping most incumbents. Vice president Taro Aso and secretary-general
Shun'ichi Suzuki remain in place. Hiroshi Kajiyama will move from Diet strategy
committee chair to become general council chair, with former Deputy Chief
Cabinet Secretary Hideki Murai replacing Kajiyama as Diet strategy committee
chair. Upper House secretary-general Junichi Ishii was removed and replaced by
Kazuhiko Aoki. Nikkei reported Takaichi was said to be dissatisfied with Ishii’s
handling of budget scheduling. Media said the moves are aimed at stabilizing the
party base and securing Takaichi’s re-election in next autumn’s LDP leadership
contest; a cabinet reshuffle is scheduled for the 17th.
