The State Ministers for the Third Abe Cabinet were determined during today’s Cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the attestation ceremony for the newly appointed State Ministers at the Imperial Palace. The Prime Minister then returned to the Prime Minister’s Office, where he held a commemorative photograph session with Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga and the newly appointed State Ministers, and attended the first meeting of State Ministers.
The Prime Minister said during the meeting,
“In the recent elections, we received the support of the people and will continue to shoulder the responsibility of administering the Government. Over the past two years, the Abe Cabinet has treated economic matters with the utmost priority, while also making maximum efforts to address important issues such as reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, revival of education, reform of social security, rebuilding of diplomacy and security policies, and disaster prevention. We have also addressed the new challenges of vitalizing local economies and realizing a society in which all women shine, head on.
Nevertheless, our reforms are only half complete. We will address each of these issues and produce results one by one. To that end, I have appointed you all as State Ministers today. As State Ministers, I ask that you fulfil your roles to the greatest extent possible, acting as driving forces for this Cabinet. Working closely together with Parliamentary Vice-Ministers, I ask that you all build appropriate relationships of trust with your subordinates in the bureaucracy, create an environment in which all ministries and agencies are able to fully exercise their capabilities, support Ministers, and manage national politics.
I hope that you will each fully exercise your respective strengths as you fulfil your duties, working as one and giving your utmost to pursue politics for the people and the nation. With that I would like to conclude my address. Thank you.”