Japan's Kishida moves to retain Aso as deputy PM, finance minister - Jiji

FILE PHOTO: Japan's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, wearing a protective face mask, delivers his policy speech at the opening of an ordinary session of the parliament in Tokyo, Japan January 18, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

Japan's presumptive next prime minister, Fumio Kishida, has started making arrangements to retain Taro Aso as deputy premier and finance minister in the new cabinet, Jiji news agency reported on Thursday.

Aso, himself a former prime minister, has served as Japan's deputy premier and finance minister since December 2012.

Former Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida poses for a picture following a press conference at the Liberal Democratic Party (LPD) headquarters after he was elected as the party president in Tokyo, Japan September 29, 2021. Du Xiaoyi/Pool via REUTERS


(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Giles Elgood)