Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has tapped longtime Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to take the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's No. 2 post of secretary-general as speculation swirls about the Motegi's replacement as Japan's top diplomat.
Kishida will relaunch his Cabinet after the Diet convenes a special session on Nov. 10 and is expected to choose Motegi's replacement as foreign minister by then. One candidate that has been floated is former education minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, according to a person familiar with the matter. Another is former defense chief Itsunori Onodera, local media has reported.
Akira Amari assumed the role of LDP secretary-general only a month ago but offered to resign following his shock defeat in a single-seat district in Sunday's general election, marking an unprecedented humiliation for a sitting LDP No. 2.