New Abe Cabinet Seen to Be Launched Dec. 24 after Election Win

Tokyo, Dec. 15 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to launch his new cabinet on Dec. 24 following the victory of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Sunday's general election, aiming to establish a long and stable administration capable of dealing with a number of policy challenges. Abe, also leader of the LDP, is mulling convening a special session of the Diet, Japan's parliament, on Dec. 24 and holding votes to elect a prime minister at plenary meetings of both the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, and the House of Councillors within the day, informed sources said. He is certain to be reelected prime minister in the parliamentary votes since the LDP won big in the Lower House election. The special Diet session is expected to last three days until Dec. 26. As his top policy priority, Abe is set to continue making utmost efforts to pull Japan out of prolonged deflation. Meanwhile, some LDP members are cautious about the prime minister's office gaining more power in policy management. Apparently taking such a view into consideration, Abe said on television Sunday night, "I will promote my policies by fully explaining them to the public, without becoming too complacent in our election victory." Abe and Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito, the ruling coalition partner of the LDP, are slated to hold a meeting on Monday afternoon. They are expected to confirm the two parties' alliance. Abe is expected to limit reshuffles of his cabinet and the LDP executive team to a minimum. Ministers likely to be retained include Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, and Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Akihiro Ota. LDP Secretary-General Sadakazu Tanigaki will also likely be allowed to remain in the post. On TV, Abe also showed his intention to establish new national security-related legislation during next year's ordinary Diet session, seen to be convened in January, following the government's reinterpretation of Japan's constitution in July to lift the country's self-imposed ban on the exercise of the collective self-defense right. Abe also expressed his eagerness to amend the constitution, saying that it is his major goal. Abe's term of office as LDP president is set to expire in September 2015. Some LDP members say that Abe may be reelected LDP president uncontested in a party leadership race next year, as he successively led the LDP to victory in the December 2012 Lower House election, the July 2013 Upper House election and the latest general election. Speaking on TV Sunday night, Tanigaki underscored the importance of making efforts to humbly and seriously implement policy measures desired by the public. END