Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The Reconstruction Promotion Council

REPORTER: I have heard that during this afternoon's meeting of the Government and ruling parties you stated that the Government intends to hold a meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council with the attendance of all Cabinet members sometime in the near future and that Reconstruction Promotion Council members will be replaced. Could you tell us what kind of time frame you were considering when you said "in the near future?" Could you also let us know your objectives for replacing members of the Reconstruction Promotion Council at this time?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: For now, I can only tell you that it will take place in the near future, and that I am currently making arrangements to fix a time with all cabinet members. What I meant was that I would like the meeting to take place as soon as possible. In relation to the replacement of council members, the new administration came about as a result of a change of government and therefore we would once again like to review the members from the time of the previous Government. Reviews like this will not be limited to this council. I believe that after the review there will be members who remain on the council while others will not. The administration would like to further accelerate efforts related to the Great East Japan Earthquake in particular as we are aware that thus far reconstruction efforts have been slow to progress. This review is part of our effort to speed up the recovery.

(Abridged)