In reshuffling his Cabinet and the executive lineup of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to have placed priority on the stability of his administration and the factional balance of power within the LDP. What policy agenda Abe and his new team will spend the administration's rich political resources on in the remaining two years of his supposedly final term as LDP chief remains the question.
In the reshuffle that followed the victory of the LDP-Komeito ruling alliance in the Upper House election in July, 17 of 19 Cabinet ministers were replaced, and 13 of the new members were given their first Cabinet portfolios. But three key figures in the administration were reappointed to their posts. Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga retained the positions they have occupied since Abe took power in late 2012, while Toshihiro Nikai remained LDP secretary-general — the powerful party post he has held since 2016.
Many of the new Cabinet appointees are close to Abe, including aides who earlier served in such capacities as deputy chief Cabinet secretary or assistant to the prime minister. One exception was Shinjiro Koizumi, the young and popular son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who is considered a future prime ministerial candidate himself. Koizumi, who was tapped as environment minister at the age of 38, has so far maintained a certain distance from Abe. In the LDP presidential race that saw Abe win a third term a year ago, Koizumi voted for Shigeru Ishiba, a former LDP secretary-general and Abe's sole opponent in the contest.