Japan PM not thinking of staying on past Sept 2006

‘‘Prime Minister Koizumi has never said that (he wouldextend his term). He has said (he would stay) only until September of next year,’’ Tsutomu Takebe, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), told reporters.

Koizumi called a September 11 general election after rebels in the LDP sided with opposition parties, and helped defeat bills to privatise the postal system, the pillar of his reform agenda.

A public opinion poll conducted at the weekend by Kyodo news agency showed that support for the LDP is about twice that of the main opposition Democratic Party who received only a 12.2 per cent support. Some 30.3 per cent of respondents said they would vote LDP. But 40 per cent said they were still undecided.

Koizumi’s term is not limited by law, but LDP rules stipulate that party presidents serve three-year terms and a maximum of two consecutive terms. Those rules have been changed in the past to allow longer terms.

The representative of the ruling party usually becomes Prime Minister, because the post is chosen by a vote in Parliament. —Reuters