Japans Takaichi to appoint senior lawmaker Katayama as finance minister, FNN says

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Japans minister in charge of local economic revitalisation Satsuki Katayama attends a news conference at Prime Minister Shinzo Abes official residence in Tokyo, Japan October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Issei Kato

TOKYO - Japans likely next prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has finalised a plan to appoint former regional revitalisation minister, Satsuki Katayama, as finance minister, broadcaster FNN reported on Tuesday.

Takaichi, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party chief, is all but certain to be elected as Japans first female prime minister at a parliamentary vote later on Tuesday.

A former finance ministry official-turned-lawmaker, Katayama chairs the ruling Liberal Democratic Partys research commission on the finance and banking systems.

She has a strong background in economic and finance fields, having served as minister in charge of Local Economic Revitalisation under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

As finance minister, Katayama will likely face a volatile foreign exchange market under the administration of Takaichi, an advocate of expansionary fiscal and monetary policy.

In an interview with Reuters in March, Japans economic fundamentals suggest the yens real value is closer to 120-130 per dollar. REUTERS