Japan gets new economy minister

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In Japan, Increasingly unpopular prime minister Taro Aso has appointed two ruling party legislators to Cabinet posts. The move is seen as an attempt to boost ratings among voters ahead of this year's election.

Japan's newly appointed Economics Minister Yoshimasa  Hayashi leaves a news conference in Tokyo July 2,  2009. Hayashi said on Thursday that he will steer  policy carefully given a low level of economic  activity and rising unemployment.REUTERS/Yuriko  Nakao(JAPAN POLITICS BUSINESS)

Announcing the new posts, Taro Aso said there was a need to supplement the cabinet line-up.

Taro Aso said said, "The Cabinet positions were previously held by ministers who each handled more than one portfolio. Therefore, there was a need to supplement the cabinet lineup, to relieve their workload. So I've appointed two new cabinet ministers."

As the president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Aso had initially planned to replace top LDP managers with politicians who are more popular and media savvy. But faced with strong opposition from heavyweight politicians in the LDP, Aso was forced to compromise by giving up the party management reshuffle and appointing new ministers only.

48-year-old Yoshimasa Hayashi, a Harvard-educated former Defence Minister, was appointed Minister in charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy.

And 62-year-old Motoo Hayashi, who is not related to the other new minister, became minister in charge of National Public Safety.

Yoshimasa Hayash said, "Japan is facing an extremely difficult economic situation, and the political situation is also challenging, I'll try my best to put together good policies."

The chief government spokesman said the appointments would become effective on Thursday.