September 25, 2007

Following Fukuda Yasuo’s election as Liberal Democratic Party president, the LDP General Council on September 24 approved the appointments of Education Minister Ibuki Bunmei as LDP secretary general and former Finance Minister Tanigaki Sadakazu as Policy Research Council chair.

Nikai Toshihiro was reappointed as General Council chair. Former Secretary General Koga Makoto was appointed as election strategy committee head, a newly created post with a ranking similar to the other three top officials.

The LDP appointed faction leaders to these key posts in view of the Diet situation in which the opposition parties commands a majority in the House of Councilors as well as in preparation for a general election.