2008/8/1THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is expected to reshuffle his Cabinet today, filling his administration with people he can call his own and hoping to provide a boost to his sagging public support ratings.
Although he did not clearly announce that a reshuffle would take place, the prime minister told reporters Thursday afternoon: "There will be a meeting of ruling party leaders tomorrow morning. I hope to decide everything then."
Fukuda is also expected to pick new Liberal Democratic Party executives.
As president of the ruling LDP, Fukuda was to meet with Akihiro Ota, leader of junior coalition partner New Komeito, this morning.
"I want to discuss a variety of issues, including the political calendar," Fukuda said. "I also want to talk about how to tackle policy issues."
Fukuda had previously indicated he would not make a decision about a Cabinet reshuffle until after two ministers returned from a meeting of the World Trade Organization.
Fukuda met with trade minister Akira Amari and farm minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi after the two returned to Japan on Thursday.
One focus of the reshuffle will be whether Fukuda undertakes a major overhaul to cast his own imprint on the Cabinet.
When Fukuda took office in September last year, he kept on 15 of 17 ministers from the Cabinet of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe.
With a Cabinet that Fukuda can call his own, it will be easier for the prime minister to lay out the important policy areas he wants to focus on in the run-up to the next Lower House election.
Much attention will be on who Fukuda picks for the economic posts because of the wide differences within the LDP over whether to raise the consumption tax rate soon.
Fukuda has been vague about his stance on the tax issue. His appointments could show which direction he wants to take.
Another focus will be whether Fukuda retains Bunmei Ibuki as LDP secretary-general, especially with a Lower House dissolution and snap election expected soon. The secretary-general wields enormous influence over the party's election strategy.
In addition, Ibuki has called for convening an extraordinary Diet session from late August to allow for sufficient time to pass legislation to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's anti-terror refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.
However, New Komeito officials have said the session should be convened in late September.
(IHT/Asahi: August 1,2008)
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