Kishida Likely to Name Hagiuda as LDP Policy Chief

Jiji Press

9:16 JST, August 9, 2022

Tokyo (Jiji Press)—Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering naming economy minister Koichi Hagiuda as chairman of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Policy Research Council, sources familiar with the matter said.

The appointment of Hagiuda to the key party post comes as part of Kishida’s plan to reshuffle his cabinet and the LDP leadership team on Wednesday. Kishida is president of the party.

Toshiaki Endo, chairman of the LDP’s Election Strategy Committee, is likely to be named chairman of the party’s General Council, the sources said.

Hagiuda belongs to the LDP’s largest faction that was previously led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and was known as a close aide to Abe.

Endo, a senior member of an LDP group led by former Secretary-General Sadakazu Tanigaki, has friendly ties with LDP Vice President Taro Aso and Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi.

Kishida is also considering naming Sanae Takaichi, chairwoman of the LDP’s Policy Research Council, to his cabinet, the sources said.