government reshuffle after collapse of consensus

Prime Minister Kishida called on MPs to review their ties to the Unification Church after the attack on Shinzo Abe. The formation of the new cabinet aims to balance the various souls of the Liberal Democratic Party. Approval rate of 51%, the lowest value recorded by the executive so far.

Tokyo ( / Agencies) – Fumio Kishida has decided to restructure in the hope of giving new impetus to his government. It was announced today by the same prime minister at a press conference, referring to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tensions between the US and China over Taiwan and the general increase in prices, as “the most serious challenges since the postwar period”.

The new executive took over at a time when public control over relations between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church (CoU) has intensified, after an attacker (whose mother was a member of the religious group) assassinate former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In recent days, Kishida had called on government officials and Liberal Democrat leaders to review their relations with the controversial religious group. However, despite the fact that close to 80% of the population said they did not feel satisfied With the explanations that politicians have given about their links with the CoU, in the new government there will continue to be deputies linked in some way with the Church of Reverend Moon. Therefore the measure seems to indicate above all the prime minister’s decision to balance the various souls of the party.

The restructuring coincides with the sharp drop in support for the government. In a poll taken at the end of July, the approval rating had dropped to 51%, when only a few weeks before it was 63%. The current approval rate is the lowest since Kishida took office 10 months ago.

In the new cabinet, Yasukazu Hamada, former defense minister between 2008 and 2009, replaced Abe’s younger brother, Nobuo Kishi, because the latter publicly declared that he had received the support of the CoU in previous elections.

Former Economic Recovery Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura will take over as Industry Minister from Koichi Hagiuda, who will take over as head of the Liberal Democratic Party’s Political Bureau. Both are part of the most conservative wing of the party, which Kishida needs to strengthen his position.