Takaichi Team in LDP Is Established

Following electing Sanae Takaichi for the new president, the Liberal Democratic Party renewed the member of its board on October 7th. Reflecting contribution to her election campaign, Takaichi picked lawmakers who are close to two heavyweights in the party, Taro Aso and Toshimitsu Motegi, to the position of party leaders. This structure of power inside the party is close to that in former Fumio Kishida administration which were also dominated by Aso and Motegi.

New LDP board members are Sanae Takaichi for President, Taro Aso for Vice-President, Shun-ichi Suzuki for Secretary General, Koichi Hagiuda for Executive Acting Secretary General, Takayuki Kobayashi for Chairman of Policy Research Council, Haruko Arimura Chairwoman of General Council, Keiji Furuya for Chairman of Election Strategy Committee, Hiroshi Kajiyama for Chairman of Diet Affairs Committee, and Takako Suzuki for Chairwoman of Public Relations Headquarters.

 

Basic concept of the selection was very simple: faction and conservative. Shun-ichi Suzuki is a senior member of Aso faction and successor of Aso as Minister of Finance. Kajiyama and Takako Suzuki were members of former Motegi faction, supporting Motegi in the presidential election. Others are mainly conservative lawmakers whose political stance is close to Takaichi.

 

Aso is the greatest contributor for Takaichi’s presidency. That is why Aso faction achieved the most important position in the Board: Secretary General. Aso also occupied the position of Vice-President who makes advices to the president, i.e. the prime minister. Keeping close relationship with Aso, Motegi received the share of victory for the colleagues of his ex-faction, in spite of his defeat in the presidential election. Kajiyama and Takako Suzuki were members of former Motegi faction.

 

Furuya has been close to Takaichi for years, as conservative figures in the LDP and allies of Abe. It was reported that Kobayashi, another conservative lawmaker, was the choice of Aso. Although Takaichi hoped to appoint a woman to the policy chief, Aso recommended Kobayashi. Takaichi obeyed.

 

One controversial choices was Hagiuda for the deputy of Shun-ichi Suzuki. Hagiuda is one of the lawmakers in former Abe faction who was punished by the LDP with reception of secret fund and his secretary was indicted and fined for failing in reporting the fund. He had a close relationship with former Unification Church, which excessive donation caused hardship of its believers’ families.

 

In Kishida administration, Aso and Motegi promoted connection between relatively liberal Kishida and conservative groups of former allies of Abe. Now, Aso and Motegi do not need to bridge between the liberals and conservatives. This means that Takaichi administration will be genuinely a hawkish one with support of Aso and Motegi. However, it is unclear whether this minority government can promote conservative agenda.

 

The opposition parties are closely watching how Takaichi team will be formulated. LDP’s coalition partner, Komeito, is worrying about LDP’s treatment of lawmakers who were involved in the slush fund scandal. It is possible that Takaichi is facing a lot of questions about her recognition of the scandal or conservative political position from other parties in coming session of the Diet later this month.

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