On Monday, September 30th, Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, announced at a press conference at the party headquarters that he plans to hold a general election for the House of Representatives on October 27th in the capacity of the potential prime minister. Ishiba also revealed the lineup of the new LDP executive team on that day. While the new cabinet will be officially announced on Tuesday, the key personnel selections have been essentially settled.
According to Japan’s Kyodo News, Ishiba intends to dissolve the House of Representatives on October 9 and issue the election notice on October 15.
“It is crucial for the new government to promptly receive the judgment of the people,” said Ishiba at the press conference.
The former defense minister was elected as the head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on September 27 and is set to be designated as Japan’s new prime minister by the parliament on October 1. The new cabinet will also be inaugurated on October 1.
Ishiba believes that holding a general election for the Lower House shortly after the new administration takes office is a wise move. He plans to propose political reforms in response to the factional kickback scandal and intends to implement economic measures to address rising prices. Opposition parties are demanding thorough debates in the parliament, arguing that Ishiba is dissolving the Lower House early to “obscure the kickback issue,” and they vow to present opposition.
The last general election for the House of Representatives was held three years ago in October 2021. This upcoming election will be the first Lower House election conducted based on the newly redrawn electoral districts, competing for a total of 465 seats.
This election also serves as an evaluation of the Ishiba government, and the election results will determine which party controls the lower house of the parliament.
Beginning on Monday, September 30th, Ishiba started appointing key party positions and will announce the new cabinet after officially being elected as prime minister on Tuesday. He unveiled the new lineup of the LDP executive team on Monday. Former Prime Minister Taro Aso will serve as the top advisor to the LDP; former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Hiroshi Moriyama will be the Secretary-General of the LDP; former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi will lead his election campaign team; former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will be the Vice President of the LDP.
It is generally believed that Suga, with his extensive political experience, will help Ishiba unite the LDP and stabilize the party’s foundation. Appointing Taro Aso as the LDP’s top advisor is also seen as a move to unify the party.
Two sources familiar with personnel appointments revealed to Reuters earlier that several key cabinet positions include Ishiba’s rivals in the LDP presidential election: Katsunobu Kato will serve as the Minister of Finance, Yoshimasa Hayashi will continue as the crucial Chief Cabinet Secretary, a role that includes acting as the government’s chief spokesperson.
The sources also disclosed that Ishiba’s close ally, former Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya, will assume the position of Foreign Minister, and Gen Nakatani will become the Defense Minister.
Another source indicated that Yoji Muto will be appointed as the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
However, the strong conservative Sanae Takaichi is not yet included in Ishiba’s cabinet list. On September 27, Ishiba defeated Sanae Takaichi with a vote of 215 to 194, securing the position of LDP president.
Hiroshi Shiratori, a political science professor at Hosei University in Tokyo, commented that reports from the media suggesting that Sanae Takaichi declined a role “may indicate Ishiba’s weak support base, which could pose problems for him in the future”.