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Noda Launched New DPJ Leadership

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) launched its new leadership Wednesday under its President Yoshihiko Noda, with the ruling party's No. 2 post of secretary general handed to Azuma Koshiishi. DPJ lawmakers from both chambers of the Diet approved the appointment of former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara as policy chief, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, 62, as Diet affairs chief, and Shinji Tarutoko, 52, former chairman of Diet affairs, as acting secretary general.

Meanwhile, Japanese media speculated that the prime minister-designate, Yoshihiko Noda, is considering appointing Tatsuo Kawabata as new chief cabinet secretary, DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada, 58, as finance minister, and Secretary of Defense Akihisa Nagashima, 49, as foreign minister.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano is expected to stay within the cabinet, while Trade and Industry ministry Banri Kaieda, who was defeated by Noda in a runoff for the DPJ's presidency Monday, might not join the Noda cabinet which is expected to be launched as early as Friday.

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