Prime Minister Taro Aso faced a firestorm of criticism Thursday over his apparent failure to reshuffle the leadership of his ruling party, with LDP lawmakers arguing that his attempt to change personnel only highlighted the party’s turmoil ahead of a looming general election. ‘‘Honestly, I have to say that the mess (within the party) was only revealed after all,’’ said Yoshitaka Murata, deputy chief chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party’s Diet Affairs Committee. Aso, 68, was believed to have been considering switching around party portfolios to buoy his beleaguered administration before campaigning for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election starts Friday, but apparently gave up the plan in the face of strong opposition from some LDP lawmakers.
   
Instead, the premier, whose support ratings are in tatters, announced Wednesday evening that he has decided to add two new faces to his Cabinet lineup, appointments critics say are unlikely to help revive his popularity. Koichiro Shimizu, an LDP lower house member, said, ‘‘The prime minister’s power and clout in the party are extremely weak.’’ LDP Diet affairs chief Tadamori Oshima said, ‘‘We should not fuss around within the party. We rather need to forge ahead (toward the election for the House of Representatives).’’ Opposition lawmakers also unleashed an attack against Aso. ‘‘Aso’s Cabinet is suffering a decline in power. His dignity has hit bottom,’’ said Yasumasa Shigeno, secretary general of the small opposition Social Democratic Party. ‘‘It’s a result of (the ruling parties’) changing the administration repeatedly without seeking a popular mandate,’’ he said. Aso appointed Yoshimasa Hayashi as economic and fiscal policy minister and Motoo Hayashi as chief of the National Public Safety Commission. Yoshimasa Hayashi, a former defense minister, will replace Kaoru Yosano, who will retain his other posts of finance minister and financial services minister. Motoo Hayashi, acting LDP secretary general, will take over from Tsutomu Sato, who will keep his other post of internal affairs and communications minister.

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