Noda replaces censured ministers

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda carried out a Cabinet reshuffle Monday, effectively sacking two censured ministers in a bid to court the Liberal Democratic Party's support to pass contentious legislation to double the 5 percent sales tax.

It is the second time Noda has reshuffled his Cabinet since he assumed office in September. He changed out members in January also in an attempt to push forward talks on the tax issue with the opposition camp, replacing two ministers censured by the opposition-controlled Upper House in December.

Bowing again to opposition pressure, Noda replaced five of his 18 Cabinet members, including Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka and transport chief Takeshi Maeda, both of whom were censured in the Upper House in April.

Their replacement is a condition demanded by the LDP for holding tax talks with the Democratic Party of Japan government.

"The reshuffle aims to strengthen the Cabinet's function and create an environment to move forward various issues, such as the tax and social security reforms," Noda said Monday.

Announcing the new Cabinet lineup, Noda urged the LDP to engage in talks on a compromise over the tax issue and stressed the necessity of holding tax talks "at some stage" with LDP chief Sadakazu Tanigaki, who advocates hiking the sales levy.

To ensure the tax hike bills are passed, Noda said it is "most important" to discuss the issue thoroughly with the LDP.

Noda, who has said he will stake his political career on getting the bills passed in the current Diet session, did not mention if he would try to extend the session beyond its scheduled June 21 end if the legislation hits a snag.

Noda's Cabinet submitted to the Diet in late March bills including one that will double the consumption tax in two stages to 8 percent in April 2014 and 10 percent in October 2015 to help cover the nation's swelling social security costs.

The Cabinet reshuffle comes a day after Noda, who heads the DPJ, failed to win over former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa, who strongly opposes the tax hike.

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Noda replaces censured ministers