Japan PM says to reshuffle cabinet on Aug. 27

By Staff
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TOKYO, Aug 19 (Reuters) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, seeking a fresh start after his party's devastating election defeat last month, said today he planned to reshuffle his cabinet on Aug. 27.

In a stunning defeat in a July 29 election, Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner lost their majority in the parliament's upper house, as voters outraged at scandals and bungled pension records turned to the opposition.

Abe did not have to step down because the coalition has a huge majority in the powerful lower house, but his decision to cling to his post has prompted criticism even within the LDP.

Asked whether a cabinet shuffle would be conducted on Aug.

27 as has been widely speculated, Abe told reporters: ''I'm basically thinking in that direction.'' Abe, who departed today for a week-long trip to Indonesia, India, and Malaysia, is also seen likely to reshuffle LDP executive posts on the same day.

''I would like to think about this thoroughly while taking into consideration various standpoints,'' Abe said about the cabinet reshuffle.

While Abe steered clear of any specifics, the Yomiuri newspaper reported that LDP policy chief Shoichi Nakagawa and former foreign minister Nobutaka Machimura were among the lawmakers who may join the new cabinet.

Members of Machimura's faction within the LDP are pushing for him to become the new chief cabinet secretary, the daily said, adding that Abe was thought to be considering Nakagawa as a possible candidate for farm minister or an economic-related cabinet post.

Abe has been planning to reshuffle his wounded cabinet to try for a fresh start after a string of scandals, mostly over accusations of funding irregularities. A minister has killed himself and three others have been fired or quit.

REUTERS JT HT0900

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