Media: Japanese PM Takaichi to reshuffle cabinet as approval ratings slide

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is preparing a reshuffle of her cabinet and the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as her government's approval ratings decline, Kyodo News reported on Friday (July 24), citing sources.

According to the report, particular attention is focused on the positions of finance minister, currently held by Satsuki Katayama, and LDP Secretary-General Shun'ichi Suzuki, a close ally of former Prime Minister Taro Aso.

The reshuffle is expected to include a representative from the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP's coalition partner. It remains unclear whether several senior ministers who were Takaichi's rivals in the LDP leadership race will retain their posts, including Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Takayuki Kobayashi.

Kyodo said the personnel changes could take place in August or September and are aimed at strengthening the government's position ahead of next year's LDP leadership election. Cabinet and party reshuffles have traditionally been used by Japanese prime ministers to shore up public support.

By Aghakazim Guliyev