Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida committed to actions aimed at regaining public confidence in his administration. This follows reports of his plans to overhaul his cabinet in response to a fundraising scandal involving several ministers.
This scandal, involving undisclosed donations to lawmakers, poses a significant threat to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been in power since 2012.
Recent polls show a steep decline in support for Kishida’s government, with the opposition party reportedly gearing up to challenge key figures such as Hirokazu Matsuno, the government’s chief spokesperson and a central figure in the scandal.
Kishida has acknowledged the need for timely and appropriate measures to rebuild trust and avoid disruptions in national governance.
According to the Asahi newspaper, Kishida is considering replacing four ministers and making changes to 11 other ministerial roles. A cabinet reshuffle could happen as soon as Thursday.
Those likely to be replaced include Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Internal Affairs Minister Junji Suzuki, and Agriculture Minister Ichiro Miyashita, along with various deputies and parliamentary secretaries.
During his recent regular briefing on Monday, Matsuno largely repeated his previous remarks that an investigation was underway and he would take appropriate actions.
“I intend to fulfill the responsibilities of duties I have been given,” Matsuno told reporters.
