Suga to reappoint Aso as Japan's finance minister

Sep 15, 2020 | News On Japan

Sep 15, 2020 (Nikkei) - Yoshihide Suga, the newly chosen leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will retain Taro Aso as finance minister and deputy prime minister after Suga's expected election as prime minister later this week, Nikkei has learned.

Aso, who will turn 80 this month, served in these posts through Shinzo Abe's seven-plus-year stint as prime minister -- one of the few to survive Abe's multiple cabinet reshuffles, along with Suga, 71, as chief cabinet secretary. Suga is widely expected to continue with Abe's economic policies.

The new LDP leader also decided on top party posts on Monday, moving to assemble a team that showcases stability while distributing high-profile posts to each of the five party factions that backed Suga in the election.

Toshihiro Nikai, 81, head of the fourth-largest LDP faction and an early Suga supporter, will remain the party's secretary-general. He has held the job since August 2016 and broke the record for total days in the post last week.

Toshihiro Nikai was an early Suga supporter and will remain the party's secretary-general.

"Those two are crucial for government management," Suga said of Aso and Nikai in a press conference on Monday.

Former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Tsutomu Sato is being tapped to chair the General Council, the party's top decision-making body, which signs off on bills and treaties to be submitted to the legislature as well as party appointments. He succeeds Shunichi Suzuki, a fellow member of Aso's faction.

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