The Abe Administration and the Rise of the Prime Ministerial Executive by Aurelia George Mulgan

Author:Aurelia George Mulgan [Mulgan, Aurelia George]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ethnic Studies, Social Science, Political Science, World, American Government, Asian, Regional Studies, General
ISBN: 9781351589949
Google: SkcrDwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 39825136
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2017-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

Political appointments to buttress the power of the Abe Kantei

Abe is also known for ‘personnel decisions by the Abe Kantei’ (Abe Kantei jinji)’.245 This is a general description for Abe’s skill in making astute political appointments and removals for the purpose of buttressing his position as LDP president and the Kantei’s power against possible rivals and rival power centres, and over policies.

One of Abe’s most important selection principles has been to tap into the accumulated experience of senior party figures. He set up a so-called ‘senior circle’ (shinia sākuru)246 made up of those who had been prominent in previous LDP administrations or in the party. In December 2012, he appointed and has continued to reappoint former Prime Minister Asō as deputy prime minister and Minister of Finance as well as utilising the skills of former Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo in supporting his diplomacy with China and with the United States.247 Abe also chose former LDP leader Tanigaki as Minister of Justice and then as LDP secretary-general, enabling the prime minister to predominate in the management of his administration by keeping the LDP under his control, something that was made possible by ‘Tanigaki’s accepting the Kantei’s wishes all the time’.248

The system has also worked on the members of the senior circle taking turns in major posts in the cabinet and in the party without consideration for factional ties.249 In September 2014, for example, Nikai ‘joined the senior circle when he made a comeback as chairman of the LDP’s Executive Council’.250 His position in the circle was further entrenched by his appointment as LDP secretary-general in August 2016, replacing Tanigaki. At the same time, Abe’s canny personnel selections ensured that the Kantei-centred political regime would be maintained. Other leadership positions in the party were distributed evenly amongst the heavyweights in other factions instead of appointing Diet members close to Nikai, where they could potentially form an intra-party counterweight to the Kantei.251

Besides setting up the ‘senior circle’, another of Abe’s selection principles has been to adopt a two-tiered system of ministerial appointments, or ‘senior ministers system’ (shinia minisutā sei).252 His selection of Minister in Charge of Economic Revitalisation Amari and LDP Vice-President in Charge of Diplomacy Kōmura was based on the trust Abe placed in them and their careers up to that point. As a result, they were able to exercise power as the ‘seniors’ of the METI and MOFA ministers respectively, acting in these roles on various issues including the TPP negotiations and granting Japan the right of collective self-defence respectively.253

Abe has also sought to win over major potential rivals by offering them high-level positions. Tanigaki’s appointment as LDP secretary-general in the reshuffle of the party’s executive line-up in September 2014 was explained by this principle as was Abe’s choice of Ishiba Shigeru as Minister in Charge of Regional Revitalisation in the cabinet reshuffle in that month. As both politicians had the potential to become rivals in the LDP presidential election in September 2015, these personnel decisions were truly skilful in terms of ensuring Abe’s victory in that election.

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