Japan: Former health minister Shigeyuki Goto appointed as economy minister

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida appointed former health minister Shigeyuki Goto to become the country’s new economy minister. Goto’s appointment follows the resignation of Daishiro Yamagiwa, who stepped down this week.

Kishida appointed Goto to become the new economy minister following the resignation of Yamagiwa, who has faced calls from opposition lawmakers to resign. Yamagiwa turned in his resignation Monday. Yamagiwa said he “caused inconvenience to the government” in his failure to immediately explain his ties to the controversial Unification Church.

Kishida told reporters Tuesday that he appointed Goto because of his “political experience, high presentation skills, and passion for economic and social reforms.” Goto’s appointment also comes amidst pressure on the government to draft a new economic stimulus package and an extra budget proposal.

Kishida pledged to put together an economic stimulus package by the end of the month to tackle the rising cost of living. An official from the governing party said Monday that the package may be at a little over $176 billion.

Yamagiwa was the first minister under Kishida’s government to resign amidst a time when the government is under heavy scrutiny following the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe back in July.

The gunman blamed Abe for promoting the controversial Unification Church as he alleged that the church brought his mother to struggle financially. Abe’s death put the spotlight on the ties politicians under Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party have with the church, which critics described as a cult.

While the LDP said there are lawmakers that have ties to the church, it added that there was no organizational link to the controversial religious organization. Kishida has also ordered an investigation into the matter.

In other related news, Japan’s foreign ministry said Monday that it was temporarily closing its embassy in Haiti, citing the worsening humanitarian and security crisis that has been plaguing the country. A ministry official said it remains to be determined when the embassy would reopen.

Japan has already told its citizens not to travel to Haiti at this time and for Japanese nationals who are already in Haiti to leave immediately.

This comes as the country is facing fuel shortages due to a blockade by gangs demanding the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, putting the country’s economic activity to a standstill and hospitals forced to close or reduce operations.