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Japan waits for cabinet reshuffle Fukuda's rival rises in reshuffle
(about 24 hours later)
A popular rival to struggling Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is tipped to resume a key political role in what analysts say will be a major reshuffle. A main rival to struggling Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda has assumed a key role in a major cabinet reshuffle.
Taro Aso has accepted Mr Fukuda's offer to become secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, Japanese media report. Taro Aso, 67, has accepted Mr Fukuda's offer to become secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party.
The post is seen as a launching-board for the prime minister's job itself. Thirteen out of 17 cabinet posts have been replaced, including finance and economics ministers, but some important positions were unchanged.
Mr Fukuda is calling in his ministers to accept their resignation so that he can appoint a new cabinet by evening. The move is being seen as a last-ditch attempt to shore up the government and boost its flagging popularity.
The first announcements will be senior appointments in the LDP, then the actual ministers, and the whole process is due to take eight or nine hours. Yasuo Fukuda, 72, retained most of the ministers chosen by his predecessor when he took over last September but the cabinet's approval ratings have fallen below 30% for several months.
Yasuo Fukuda retained most of the ministers chosen by his predecessor when he took over last September but the cabinet's approval ratings have fallen below 30% for several months. The next general election must be held no later than September 2009, and analysts believe Mr Fukuda may seek to draw on Mr Aso's popularity with the public to improve the ruling coalition's chances.
The reshuffle is seen as a last-ditch effort to try to improve the situation before Mr Fukuda calls the next general election, which must be held no later than September 2009, the BBC's Chris Hogg reports from Tokyo.
Analysts believe he may seek to draw on Mr Aso's own popularity with the public to improve the ruling coalition's chances.
The LDP's secretary general would play a key role in directing the election campaign.The LDP's secretary general would play a key role in directing the election campaign.
Charismatic figure The post is also seen as a launching-board for the prime minister's job itself.
This is a gamble for Mr Fukuda, our correspondent says. Outcast appointed
In the reshuffle, the economic and fiscal policy portfolio goes to Kaoru Yosano, a veteran politician who has proposed a controversial tax hike to make up for ballooning debt.
What voters want isn't a change of ministers, but a change to policies that will safeguard people's lives Main opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa
The new finance minister is outgoing secretary general Bunmei Ibuki.
Seiko Noda - who was thrown out of the LDP by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi after she opposed plans to privatise the post office - makes a comeback as minister in charge of food safety and consumer issues.
But some important positions are unchanged.
Nobutaka Machimura - as chief cabinet secretary, the government's main spokesman - remains in post, as does Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.
In a news conference announcing the changes, Mr Machimura denied the reshuffle was just a ploy to buttress popular support for the government.
"It's important to carry out a new strategy to seek economic growth," he said, according to news agency AFP.
"As a cabinet, we are not working just for the sake of approval ratings."
But main opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa said the changes would make little difference.
"What voters want isn't a change of ministers, but a change to policies that will safeguard people's lives," AFP quoted him as saying.
"We are determined to change the government in upcoming elections."
Gamble
This is a gamble for Mr Fukuda, says our correspondent in Tokyo, Chris Hogg.
Mr Fukuda has come under fire for his handling of domestic issuesMr Fukuda has come under fire for his handling of domestic issues
He is expected to sack most of his cabinet and replace it with a new line-up, this time made up of ministers he has chosen himself, rather than inherited. If they do well then there is a chance they will be able to persuade the electorate the party can be trusted with another term in office, he says.
If they do well then there is a chance they will be able to persuade the electorate the party can be trusted with another term in office. If, as happened in his predecessor's administration, they become embroiled in scandals or make mistakes, Mr Fukuda will be damaged - in fact probably dealt a blow from which he will not be able to recover, our correspondent adds.
If, as happened in his predecessor's administration, they become embroiled in scandals or make mistakes Mr Fukuda will be damaged - in fact probably dealt a blow from which he will not be able to recover, our correspondent says.
Mr Aso went from being foreign minister to becoming party secretary general under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August 2007.Mr Aso went from being foreign minister to becoming party secretary general under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August 2007.
However, following Mr Abe's resignation, he left the post and lost the LDP leadership contest to Mr Fukuda soon afterwards.However, following Mr Abe's resignation, he left the post and lost the LDP leadership contest to Mr Fukuda soon afterwards.
Known for his conservative views, he has advocated a tough line towards North Korea and rejects changing the law to allow women to ascend the throne.Known for his conservative views, he has advocated a tough line towards North Korea and rejects changing the law to allow women to ascend the throne.
He is also a charismatic figure who is known to love Japanese manga cartoons. He is also seen as a charismatic figure who is known to love Japanese manga cartoons.
By contrast, Mr Fukuda's approval rating has fallen dramatically amid rows over lost pension records and a new compulsory health insurance scheme for the elderly.By contrast, Mr Fukuda's approval rating has fallen dramatically amid rows over lost pension records and a new compulsory health insurance scheme for the elderly.