A cabinet reshuffle is an occasion when the head of government (often called a prime minister, though there are exceptions) changes the positions of people in their Cabinet – the group of senior politicians who advise the government on policy and make key decisions. It is much more common in parliamentary systems, where the cabinet can be removed by parliament if it loses confidence. In presidential systems, the cabinet can be changed by the executive, but the new ministers must usually be confirmed by the legislature – this can act as a deterrent against frequent reshuffles.
Cabinet reshuffles are often motivated by a desire to refresh the top team and bring in new MPs who may have a fresher, younger perspective. Alternatively, they might be used to tackle an internal party rival or to try and keep the coalition together.
However, it is also important to note that ministerial churn can hurt policy outcomes. Excessive turnover can reduce the ability of departments to build expertise and a deep understanding of the issues they oversee, and makes it harder for parliamentarians to hold them to account for the policies they implement. It can also give the impression to voters, political donors and party members that a government is unstable, which can harm its credibility.
The Committee on the Constitutional Affairs has recommended that a limit be placed on how often the cabinet can be reshuffled. Such a limitation would offer stability to departments and limit the amount of time that ministers are in post for, which could help to limit internal party power struggles and prevent them from disrupting the work of government.