Suga's New Cabinet To Focus On Regulatory Reform


Suga's new Cabinet to focus on regulatory reform

Japan's new Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has announced a new Cabinet and pledged to address priorities including regulatory reform, and push forward with policies of the former government.

Suga selected the Cabinet members after he was chosen as Japan's 99th prime minister in the Diet on Wednesday.

Suga said at a news conference that his government should continue the efforts of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's Cabinet. He expressed his intention to achieve a balance between anti-coronavirus measures and revitalization of social and economic activities.

He also pledged that he will focus on such issues as regulatory reform and digitalization that were apparently delayed amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Suga revealed that he instructed newly-appointed Administrative Reform Minister Kono Taro to listen to public opinions about bureaucratic sectionalism, and to introduce a new institution to gather information about the real impact of regulations.

Suga said he is planning to set up a new government agency in charge of digitalization to improve efficiency of government work and to promote economic growth in the post-coronavirus era.

The new prime minister added that he will stop holding an annual state-funded cherry blossom-viewing party starting next year. The event has drawn sharp criticism for the growing number of participants and the expense.