14/01/2011 11:14
Japan PM Naoto Kan reshuffles Cabinet
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has reshuffled his Cabinet to try to breathe new life into his struggling administration and win support for tax increases and trade liberalisation measures, The Australian reports.
The final changes will be announced later today, but reports suggest Mr Kan has removed from the Cabinet his right-hand man, chief Cabinet secretary Yoshito Sengoku, in response to demands from opposition parties for his scalp.
Another Kan ally, Yukio Edano, has been appointed to fill the gap and the Prime Minister has drafted a minor party MP who is a strong supporter of increasing Japan's consumption tax into his Cabinet to look after tax policy.
Transport Minister Sumio Mabuchi was also stripped of his post.