Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who chose not to step down after his Liberal Democratic Party's devastating defeat in last month's Upper House election, reshuffled the LDP leadership and his Cabinet on Monday. Mr. Abe has at least two messages for the people: that his new Cabinet is reliable and stable, and that it is serious about solving social welfare-related problems, including the pension fiasco, and the gaps between prospering urban areas and economically weak rural areas. These problems were the cause of the ruling coalition's defeat in the July 29 election.
Mr. Abe hopes the new Cabinet lineup will buoy his popularity. But the inclusion of many faction leaders and deputy leaders, as well as the retention of five members of the old Cabinet, may fail to present a fresh image. In the first place, it will be difficult for Mr. Abe, who refused to take the Upper House election result as an indicator of no confidence in him, to regain people's trust.
The people lost trust in Mr. Abe's leadership as members of his first Cabinet became embroiled in scandal. Political funds scandals cost Mr. Abe three Cabinet ministers, one of whom committed suicide, and a gaffe remark that the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki "could not be helped" led to the resignation of a defense minister. A health minister caused an uproar when he referred to women as baby-bearing machines. His previous Cabinet was also criticized as a Cabinet made up of cronies.