- Title: Japan PM Abe opts for safe hands over fresh faces in Cabinet reshuffle
- Date: 3rd August 2017
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE SIGN READING "PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE" JAPANESE FLAG
- Embargoed: 17th August 2017 08:00
- Keywords: Japan Tokyo Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Liberal Democratic Party cabinet reshuffle politics
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0036SLQSLH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, beset by scandals and falling support, opted almost entirely for safe hands over fresh faces in a Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday (August 3), but the changes may not give him the boost in support he wants.
Many ministers are being reappointed, such as Finance Minister Taro Aso, or are taking up posts they have held before. One of the few exceptions is new Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who is known for both his willingness to criticize the ruling party and a frankness unusual for a Japanese politician.
Opinion polls show support for Abe has plunged to its lowest since he returned to office in December 2012 with a promise to revive Japan's stale economy and bolster its defenses, endangering his goal of revising the pacifist constitution.
Abe had until recently also been seen as likely to win a third term as head of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and thus the premiership, putting him on track to be Japan's longest-serving prime minister.
But support in recent polls has fallen below 30 percent, with the opposition fanning suspicions of Abe's favoritism to a friend and voters believing that he and his aides have grown arrogant in office. He was also hurt by the LDP's defeat by a novice political party in a July assembly election. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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