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National News

LDP hits postal rebels, Koike takes on Kobayashi

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) stepped up its offensive Aug. 10 against the rebels who voted against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization bills.

Environment Minister Yuriko Koike will run against Koki Kobayashi, a leading postal bill opponent, in the Lower House election scheduled for Sept. 11.

Kyogon Hagiyama, a former Lower House member, will run against Tamisuke Watanuki, another major LDP postal bill opponent.

The postal privatization bills were rejected by a vote of 125 to 108 in the Upper House on Aug. 8 as 30 LDP members in the Upper House either voted against or abstained from voting, prompting Koizumi to dissolve the Lower House and call the election.

The bills have cleared the Lower House with a margin of five votes as 37 LDP lawmakers voted against them and another 14 abstained.

After calling the election, Koizumi said the LDP will not endorse the 37 lawmakers as LDP candidates and ordered the party to field new candidates to run against the dissidents.

"This is an election to ask voters if they support or oppose postal privatization. Voters would be in trouble if they don't have a proprivatization candidate," Koizumi told reporters.

(The Japan Times, Kyodo)


Shukan ST: Aug. 19, 2005

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