Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki as secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday, removing Shigeru Ishiba, Abe's top political rival, from the party's No. 2 post.
Abe appointed Tanigaki, 69, in apparent hopes that the veteran lawmaker, his predecessor as LDP leader while the party was in the opposition, will keep members united without disturbing the balance of power between intraparty factions.
Tanigaki is an experienced politician who has held a number of key positions, including LDP president, policy chief, finance minister and infrastructure minister.
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