Abe seeks to steady the ship

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday appointed a number of veteran politicians that are close to him to high offices in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in a move to reverse his all-time-low approval ratings and display a united party. His Cabinet reshuffle shows that Abe is trying to heal the fractures within the party.

The resignation of former defense minister Tomomi Inada, an Abe protege, a week ago, was a wake-up call for the Japanese prime minister that his favoritism was reflecting badly on him. Replacing Inada, who had no expertise in managing defense affairs, with one of her predecessors Itsunori Onodera, might restore some unity and sense in the Abe administration.

And Abe needs solidarity and stability in the top echelons of his administration. Former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, a front-runner in the race for the LDP presidency when Abe's term ends next year, will chair the party's Policy Research Council, a "bespoke" senior party post that could significantly benefit him in the future contest.