Photo/Illutration From left: Takayuki Kobayashi, Toshimitsu Motegi, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Sanae Takaichi and Shinjiro Koizumi attend a debate in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Sept. 24. (Tetsuro Takehana)

Sanae Takaichi, the new president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, plans to appoint party election rival Toshimitsu Motegi as foreign minister after she becomes prime minister, a source close to her said.

Takaichi, 64, also plans to name Minoru Kihara, 56, a former defense minister with similar political views, as chief Cabinet secretary, the top government spokesman, the source said.

At an extraordinary Diet session that will likely convene on Oct. 15, Takaichi, who won the LDP election on Oct. 4, is expected to be voted in as Japan’s first female prime minister.

Opposition parties, which together hold a majority of seats in both Diet chambers, are not expected to back a single candidate who could overtake Takaichi and replace Shigeru Ishiba.

Motegi, 69, former LDP secretary-general, served as foreign minister for about two years from September 2019 and concluded Japan-U.S. trade negotiations with the first Trump administration.

Takaichi reasoned that Motegi is cut out for the post given the ongoing trade talks with Washington, the source said.

Other contenders in the LDP presidential election will likely join her administration, the source said.

She is considering offering an “important” Cabinet post to Takayuki Kobayashi, 50, former minister in charge of economic security, and a ministerial portfolio to agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, the source said.

Takaichi will pick top LDP executives as early as Oct. 7.

Takaichi, who met with former Prime Minister Taro Aso, 85, for about an hour at the LDP headquarters on the afternoon of Oct. 5, intends to appoint him as LDP vice president, the source said.

Shunichi Suzuki, a senior member of the Aso faction, is expected to become LDP secretary-general, the No. 2 post, the source said.

At a news conference on Oct. 4, Takaichi said she would prefer a secretary-general who “has a broad view of the entire party and can communicate with all parties” because cooperation with opposition parties is essential in steering the minority government.

A former finance minister, Suzuki, 72, is a brother-in-law of Aso. He currently serves as chairman of the LDP General Council.

Of the 20 lawmakers who nominated Takaichi for the LDP leadership race, the largest number belong to the 43-member Aso faction.

Takaichi is also considering picking Koichi Hagiuda, a former senior member of the Abe faction who was implicated in the LDP’s recent “money-in-politics” scandal, to a key party post, the source said.

Hagiuda, 62, former chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council, has supported Takaichi’s bid to become LDP president.

Additionally, Takaichi intends to offer two of the top four LDP posts to female lawmakers, the source said.

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