On September 3, Party President (and Prime Minister) Shinzo Abe reshuffled both the Cabinet and Party board members , followed by the General Council's approval of the new LDP leadership. The new assignments give the Party a structure with which to move forward on regional affairs among other policy issues, and to prepare for victory in the nationwide local elections scheduled for next spring.
Vice-President Masahiko Komura retained his post. New appointments included Sadakazu Tanigaki as Secretary-General; Toshihiro Nikai as Chair of the General Council ; Tomomi Inada as Chair of thePolicy Research Council Chair; and Toshimitsu Motegi as Director-General of the Election Strategy Committee. After the Council meeting, Party Vice-President Komura and four new officials including Secretary-General Tanigaki held a joint press conference to express their resolve and determination. Prime Minister Abe also held a press conference after the Cabinet reshuffle to explain his aims and discuss the challenges going forward.
Summary of press conference by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
The economy continues to be our highest priority, and we are doing everything possible to break out of deflation and execute the growth strategy. We need to deliver the benefits of economic recovery to every street corner of Japan in order to secure this growth trajectory. That is the mission of the next Abe Cabinet. We are still in the midst of reform. I have restructured the Cabinet to make a fresh start on the policy challenges and to ensure that we are able to move forward even more boldly and powerfully.
One of the biggest challenges facing the new Cabinet is to reinvigorate and enrich outlying localities. I have created a new post - Minister in charge of Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan to concentrate authority over all aspects of regional policy. Another major challenge facing the Abe Cabinet is the creation of a society where women have the opportunity to shine. I have appointed five women to the Cabinet. They include our first female ministers of Internal Affairs and Communications, of Economy, Trade and Industry, and of Disaster Management. I hope that they will bring new perspectives and approaches to these roles. I have also appointed a new Minister in charge of Promoting Women's Active Participation.
We will continue to take an active approach to global affairs and international relations. This will include an acceleration of efforts to prepare a seamless legal framework for security as outlined in the recently approved basic policy. To this end, I have appointed a new Minister in charge of Security Legislation. There are extremely far-reaching concepts involved, and a large part of this job will be providing the Japanese people with detailed explanations so that our aims and objectives are fully understood. With respect to the reorganization of U.S. forces in Japan, we will do everything possible to mitigate the burdens imposed by the bases while maintaining deterrent force. I have therefore appointed a new Minister in charge of Alleviating the Burden of the Bases in Okinawa.
Six current ministers will remain at their posts. They are all highly experienced veterans. We will also welcome eight new members to the Cabinet. It is important that the people who will one day lead Japan have the opportunity to gain experience in responsible positions and develop their skills and abilities. The new Abe Cabinet is a cabinet of action and achievement, fully aware of its responsibility to meet the expectations of the Japanese people.
Vice-President Masahiko Komura
I have been asked to stay on as Vice-President and I will continue to offer the Party President my full support.
The appointment of the new executives includes a pleasant surprise and, as is President Abe's wont, adds new and needed stimulus while providing us with a deep lineup of highly capable individuals. We look forward to working on behalf of the entire Party.
Secretary-General Sadakazu Tanigaki
It has been one year and eight months since the Party returned to power, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, we have been able to create a stable structure.
What is important going forward is that the Party remains unified under Prime Minister and Party President Shinzo Abe's leadership. There are many challenges that confront us, and I encourage the Party to fully discuss and debate these issues to be able to address them in an appropriate manner.
Ultimately, however, it is important that the Party be unified, and I will do all that I can to create structures that allow us to work on behalf of the people.
General Council Chairperson Toshihiro Nikai
My approach will be to encourage lively debate in the process, but a unified position as a party once a final decision has been reached. I hope that I will be able to meet your expectations.
Up until this point, my focus has been almost exclusively on how to make Japan more resilient in the face of natural calamity, and I want to retain this as an important theme. I also want to emphasize the relationship of trust that we have built with the New Komeito over many years. I hope to continue to develop and expand these ties.
Policy Research Council Chairperson Tomomi Inada
It has been a little over one year and eight months since the LDP returned to power, and I believe that we have brought a measure of stability to Japanese politics. We are now embarking on Chapter 2 of Abenomics, and Chapter 2 of taking back Japan. As the Chairperson of the Policy Research Council of the leading coalition partner, I want to work closely with the government and the New Komeito, bringing together the wisdom and insights of the Party to deepen the policy discussion.
I would also like to thank local Party members for the unstinting support that they have provided. I will continue to listen humbly and sincerely to the wishes and desires of regional communities and reflect them in policy.
Election Strategy Committee Director-General Toshimitsu Motegi
Victory in the upcoming local elections will strengthen both the government and the Party.
Prefectural gubernatorial elections are coming up before the year's end in Fukushima and Okinawa, and next year we have the all-important nationwide local elections.
Two years ago, the Party went into the House of Representatives election promising to "take back Japan," and we won back the government.
We were also victorious in last year's House of Councillors election, and finally brought unified leadership to both Houses.
Next year's nationwide local elections will be the "final battle" in taking back Japan. I look forward to working under the leadership of the President and Secretary-General in unity with my fellow Party members as we move toward our goals.
