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October 2024
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October 2, 2024
Ishiba Cabinet Established
Komeito’s Saito Retained as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
13 New Ministers Enter Cabinet, “Minister for Wage Issues” Created
Shigeru Ishiba, the 67-year-old president of the Liberal Democratic Party, was appointed as the 102nd Prime Minister in a special Diet session held on the 1st. Following the Prime Minister’s appointment ceremony and cabinet certification ceremony at the Imperial Palace, the Ishiba Cabinet, formed through a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, was established that evening. The new Prime Minister Ishiba held a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office, explaining the administration’s management and key issues. He reiterated his plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on the 9th and hold a general election with “announcements on the 15th and voting on the 27th.”
Prior to the establishment of the new cabinet, Prime Minister Ishiba (center) meets with Komeito leader Keiichi Ishii (to his left) and Secretary General Makoto Nishida (far left) at the Prime Minister’s Office on the 1st
■ Extraordinary session of the Diet until the 9th
The Prime Minister will deliver an inaugural address at a joint session of both houses of the Diet on the 4th. The ruling parties decided to have the special Diet session run until the 9th. They proposed a schedule for representatives of opposition parties to question the Prime Minister on the 7th and 8th, with a party leader debate on the 9th, but no agreement was reached.
After being appointed in the joint session of both houses, the Prime Minister met with Komeito’s Keiichi Ishii at the Prime Minister’s Office. Secretary General Makoto Nishida also attended, and they confirmed the cabinet formation list.
A cabinet headquarters was established and the faces of the new cabinet were officially decided. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced the list of ministers.
The Prime Minister appointed former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato (68) as Finance Minister. Seijiro Murakami (72), former Minister for Administrative Reform, was appointed as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, while Takeshi Iwaya (67), former Minister of Defense, became Foreign Minister. Nobuo Kishi (66) was reappointed as Minister of Defense.
Keiichi Saito (72), Deputy Leader of Komeito, was retained as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Among the 19 ministers, 13 are newcomers, including Toshiaki Abe (65) as Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Junko Mihara (60) as Minister for Children’s Policies.
The Prime Minister established a new “Minister for Wage Issues” to continue with wage increases following the Kishida administration. This role, alongside the preparation for the establishment of the “Disaster Prevention Agency” mentioned during the party presidential election, will be concurrently held by Ryozo Akizawa (63), Minister for Economic Revitalization. A new post for “Strengthening Measures Against Population Decline” was also created, with Yoshitaka Ito (75) serving concurrently as Minister of Regional Revitalization.
■ Fresh and Solid Lineup / Ishii Leader
Komeito leader Keiichi Ishii spoke to reporters at the Prime Minister’s office on the evening of the 1st after the conclusion of the LDP-Komeito leaders’ meeting, expressing his views on the newly established Ishiba Cabinet.
First, while 13 members are newcomers, there are also veterans included. I think this is a cabinet that mixes freshness and gravitas.
Second, regarding Komeito’s Keiichi Saito being reappointed as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Komeito places great importance on the national and local network. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, who receives many requests from local areas, is a very suitable post for Komeito, so we have continued to request this.
Third, regarding Prime Minister Ishiba’s announcement of the next House of Representatives election on October 27, we are now less than four weeks until the 27th. It will be a short-term campaign, but we definitely want to achieve victory. A majority (of seats won) for the LDP-Komeito coalition is the line for victory. Komeito aims for complete victories in 11 single-member constituencies and more than 23 proportional representation seats.