The executive lineup for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has been decided, and the Cabinet has been appointed. However, it is evident that some party groups have fared better than others. Shigeru Ishiba, the new president of the LDP, showed favoritism towards members of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s defunct faction, which played a crucial role in helping Ishiba secure the presidency. He also considered the faction led by former party Vice President Taro Aso, despite their decision not to support him in a runoff.
On the other hand, Ishiba gave few party or Cabinet positions to members of two other defunct factions led by former party Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi and late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. This suggests that these groups are now outside of the mainstream.
Ishiba’s victory in the LDP presidential election was made possible by support from Kishida’s former faction. In appreciation for their support, he decided to retain Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and appointed former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera to one of the four key party posts.
Hiroshi Moriyama, who led another defunct faction within the LDP, was given the position of party secretary general to oversee its management. Moriyama’s close relationship with Kishida and former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to strengthen his influence within the party.
Ishiba also included lawmakers close to Suga in his appointments. Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi was named head of the Election Strategy Committee while former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Manabu Sakai received a Cabinet post.
To maintain unity within the party, Aso was named as its top advisor and Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki from Aso’s faction became chair of its General Council. Two other members from Aso’s faction were also included in Ishiba’s Cabinet.
Former Motegi and Abe factions were not as fortunate. Motegi himself did not receive any significant positions while Katsunobu Kato from his own faction but distanced himself from Motegi was named finance minister.
From Abe’s previous group with over 100 members at its peak, Tatsuo Fukuda became acting secretary general but no member received a Cabinet post.
Out of 19 cabinet members appointed by Ishiba , 11 are unaffiliated with any factions including Takeshi Iwaya who served as Defense Minister previously and Takamaro Fukuoka who chairs LDP Policy Board in House Councillors both left Abe’s group earlier this year.
