Former Prime Minister Aso (center) and LDP leader Sanae Takaichi (left). Yonhap News.  

Asahi Shimbun reported on the 5th that Sanae Takaichi, the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and a strong contender for the next Japanese prime minister, is coordinating a plan to appoint Shunichi Suzuki, the chairman of the LDP's General Council, as the party's Secretary-General.

The newspaper also reported that a plan is being considered to appoint former Prime Minister Taro Aso as the party's Vice President.

Former Prime Minister Aso is the head of the 'Aso faction,' the only remaining faction within the LDP, and Suzuki, the chairman of the General Council and a member of the Aso faction, is Aso's brother-in-law.

Former Prime Minister Aso played the role of 'kingmaker' by effectively instructing faction members to support President Takaichi in the runoff election for the LDP presidency held the previous day.

Asahi analyzed that President Takaichi's consideration of former Prime Minister Aso is because Aso faction members constituted the largest number among the 20 nominators who put her name forward for the election.

It was also reported that Suzuki is considered a suitable candidate for the position of Secretary-General, which requires coordinating policies with the opposition parties, due to his extensive experience, including his past tenure as Minister of Finance.

President Takaichi is expected to be inaugurated as prime minister around the 15th, and it appears that personnel appointments for LDP executives will be made first.

However, Asahi reported that Minoru Kihara, the former Minister of Defense, is likely to be appointed as Chief Cabinet Secretary, who serves as the government spokesperson.

Former Defense Minister Kihara visited Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals from World War II are enshrined, as a serving cabinet minister on August 15 last year, and President Takaichi also paid respects at Yasukuni Shrine on the same day.

In a press conference the previous day, President Takaichi expressed her intention to appoint all four other candidates who ran in this election to cabinet or party executive positions.

She also expressed a positive stance on appointing lawmakers involved in the 'slush fund scandal.'

The Yomiuri Shimbun commented, "Whether personnel appointments can be made to foster party unity will be a touchstone for predicting the future," and noted that it remains to be seen whether appointments will be made with a focus on balance, suppressing the aspect of rewarding contributions.

Yonhap News