Top �� Speeches and Statements by Prime Minister

(Provisional Translation)

Opening Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the Press Conference following the Cabinet Reshuffle

Monday, September 22, 2003 At the recent presidential election of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), I was reelected to the position. Among the various discussions that took place during the presidential election campaign, the main focus was placed on the policy for structural reform that the Koizumi Cabinet has advanced to date. On the one hand, there were voices to change the policy. However, my position was not to change the policy. We have carried out various reforms for two years and several months under stringent economic circumstances and are now seeing buds of the results. We must ensure that these buds become a large tree. In other words, a significant point at issue was whether the reform policy is right or not. From the result of the presidential election, I understand that the encouragement I have received from many members of the LDP and also Diet members shows their support to the reform policy and their wishes to further promote the reform policy to date. From this perspective, I believe reforms which will leave to the private sector what it can do and leave to the localities what they can do - reforms that utilize the high motivation of the private sector and the unique characteristics of regional communities are necessary. The basic policy of "no growth without reform" must be promoted further. Although there have been voices from within the party to change the members of the cabinet, on this occasion I have rather judged that the time has come for the structural reform policy to be further promoted with clarity and acuity, and have reshuffled my cabinet accordingly. The cabinet to date has done an excellent job. It is also the case that in changing times in a new era, it has been necessary to constellate members who are capable of responding to such changes. Certainly, the skills and experiences of the older generation are important. However, at the same time, it is also important to nurture younger talent for the new era. A rejuvenation of the cabinet was necessary. I have gone about the reshuffle of the cabinet and personnel changes within the LDP from the perspective that the future is for the young, and that we should further promote the reform policy we have followed to date by gaining support from the older generations with experience as well as utilizing the verve of the young. If you take a look at the new cabinet members, you will understand then that the Koizumi cabinet will not budge an inch from its policy of promoting reform. With the understanding and cooperation of many of the people of Japan, signs of brightness are now presenting themselves. There were pessimistic views such as, "the Japanese economy is bad - it is only going to get worse," or "the Koizumi reform policy will harm the Japanese economy," and "if Koizumi were replaced, then the economy would improve." The people of Japan have stoically endured two years and several months of stringent economic conditions. It is through these periods that signs of brightness have appeared. In maintaining the reform policy, it is my intention to promote reforms that will lead such bright signs to actual sustainable economic growth led by the private sector. In this context, I believe that the cabinet reshuffle has been a significant one. I pledge to the people of Japan that I will continue to make every endeavor to live up to the support given to the Koizumi Cabinet and the expectations placed upon it.