Jun 30 07:31 AM US/EasternTOKYO, June 30 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Prime Minister Taro Aso suggested Tuesday he is considering reshuffling key posts in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party and his Cabinet ahead of a general election to be held by October.
The reshuffles could be conducted as early as Thursday in an effort to give the LDP a boost amid slumping popularity for the Aso Cabinet, with the premier eyeing holding the House of Representatives election in early August, according to senior party lawmakers.
Although strong opposition to any reshuffles just before the lower house dissolution and a general election remains within the LDP, Aso told reporters Tuesday, "I will decide on personnel matters. I have considered (appointing) appropriate persons at an appropriate time."
Aso is likely to make a final decision after checking the situation within the LDP, the lawmakers said.
Among four top LDP posts, Aso plans to replace Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda and Policy Research Council Chairman Kosuke Hori, the lawmakers said, with speculation growing that former Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura will replace Hosoda.
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe and Yoshihide Suga, deputy chairman of the party's Election Strategy Council, are also candidates for the LDP's No. 2 post, they said.
Aso is considering appointing Hosoda or Hori as finance minister, while keeping General Council Chairman Takashi Sasagawa and Election Strategy Council Chairman Makoto Koga in their posts, the lawmakers said.
As for Policy Research Council chairman, the names of Masuzoe, agriculture minister Shigeru Ishiba and Hiroyuki Sonoda, acting chairman of the Policy Research Council, have been floated, they said.
Aso is also considering terminating multiple assignments for two ministers -- Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano who concurrently serves as economy and fiscal policy minister, and National Public Safety Commission chief Tsutomu Sato who also serves as internal affairs and communications minister.
The expected reshuffles will be finalized after the government has compiled the guidelines for budget appropriation requests for fiscal 2010 on Wednesday, the lawmakers said.
But they are most likely to take place Thursday if Aso goes ahead with the plan, as he is expected to meet U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Wednesday evening, they said.
Meanwhile, Aso shrugged off moves by elements within the LDP to replace him before the House of Representatives election and called for unity in the party, which has trailed the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan in support ratings in recent opinion polls.
"It is time for us to unite," he said.
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