Former Farm Minister Taku Eto to be Reappointed
Former farm minister Taku Eto is expected to be reappointed to his previous position, replacing Yasuhiro Kozato. Kozato lost his seat in the recent Lower House election and subsequently announced his resignation.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba initiated the process of appointing Eto, 64, as the new Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. This comes as Ishiba faces his own challenge with the upcoming special Diet session on November 11th, where lawmakers will vote on the next Prime Minister.
The ruling coalition of Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito lost its majority in the October 27th Lower House election. Kozato was among the casualties of this election.
Eto, who has been elected eight times to the Lower House from the Miyazaki No. 2 district, previously served as farm minister in 2019 during the second Shinzo Abe administration.
Ishiba is expediting the selection process for three replacement Cabinet ministers. Justice Minister Hideki Makihara also lost his Lower House seat in the election. Additionally, Tetsuo Saito is expected to become the new leader of Komeito and will likely step down as land minister to focus on revitalizing the party.