The Liberal Democratic Party and Liberal Party agreed Wednesday to introduce 26 deputy minister posts in January 2001, when the government must slim down the administration.
The 26 deputies will be appointed by their respective ministers or agency heads and be responsible for handling policy affairs, answering questions at Diet sessions and acting for the minister in times of absence, according to the agreement.
The agreement effectively concludes working-level talks begun in November on abolishing the Diet interpellation system, where bureaucrats answer questions addressed to Cabinet ministers. During the formation of the coalition government in January, the LDP and Liberal Party decided to abolish the system and create the post of deputy minister to give more power to administrative politicians. But specifics, such as the number of the new posts, had remained unresolved.