To boost his acutely low popularity, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda reshuffled his Cabinet and Liberal Democratic Party executives Friday, replacing 13 of his 17 ministers.
Former Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who last year vied against Fukuda for the LDP presidency, and thus the prime ministership, was again named party secretary general, a post he briefly held under Fukuda's predecessor.
But whether Fukuda's bid will succeed still remains a question mark, because many Cabinet members are old-timers with experience and competence but may have little voter appeal.