TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru is considering appointing former State Foreign Minister SUZUKI Keisuke as justice minister to succeed MAKIHARA Hideki , who lost his seat in last month’s election for the House of Representatives, administration officials said Monday.

Former agriculture minister ETO Taku has emerged as a possible successor for the job to replace OZATO Yasuhiro, who also lost his seat in the Lower House election, the officials said.

Both Makihara and Ozato are expected to be replaced once Ishiba is re-elected at a parliamentary session set to start on Nov. 11.

Ishiba is also looking for a successor to SAITO Tetsuo, who is expected to step down as land minister to become leader of Komeito, the junior coalition partner of Ishiba’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Ishiba, who has been in office for only a little more than a month, plans to keep other ministers in their posts, the officials said.

Suzuki, 47, who was elected to the Lower House six times, will be given a cabinet post for the first time in his political career. Eto, 64, who is an expert on agricultural policies, was elected to the Lower House eight times.

As the LDP and Komeito lost their Lower House majority in the election, a vote in the parliamentary chamber to elect a prime minister is expected to go to a runoff between Ishiba and NODA Yoshihiko, leader of the major opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

Ishiba is likely to be re-elected because Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) and the Democratic Party for the People distance themselves from the CDP.

JIJI Press