Hashimoto is back in the open since he is responsible (in the new cabinet) for the aplication of the reform he himself proposed when he was prime.
the article refers to retirement and transfers to private sector as a way to absorb the lay offs. i am not sure whether it applies in this case, but high ranking public officiers are usually recycled in high profile positions in big companies to tighten the links between bureaucracy and the business world. or they are sent to regional administrations.
even if this reform reduces the nb of offices and staff, the national budget is not as drastically reduced as planned, from memory the difference is about -3% compared to last year.
jc helary