TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s incoming prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, will likely keep Yoshimasa Hayashi as chief cabinet secretary when he forms his cabinet, the Asahi newspaper reported on Saturday.
A former defence minister and foreign minister, Hayashi was among eight candidates who lost to Ishiba in an unpredictable race on Friday to be president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Hayashi has been chief cabinet secretary – a pivotal job that includes being top government spokesperson – under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is stepping down after party scandals damaged its popularity.
Ishiba said after winning the LDP race he planned to form his government on Tuesday after the lower house of parliament – where the LDP has a majority – votes him in as prime minister.
Shinjiro Koizumi, who finished third in the LDP race, will likely be appointed to head the party’s election committee, local media reported on Saturday.
(Reporting by Brigid Riley; Editing by William Mallard)
