TOKYO, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was re-elected Saturday head of the Liberal Democratic Party, the leading partner of the current coalition.
His decisive victory in the first balloting strengthened Koizumi's claim that he must continue his structural reforms at the same pace. He has promised to name a new Cabinet Monday.
Sunday Koizumi is announcing appointments of new LDP officials and consulting with other coalition partners, the New Komeito and the New Conservative Party, United Press International reported.
Koizumi indicated the House of Representatives elections will be held around the 10th of October.
An extraordinary session of the Diet is expected to be convened Sept. 26th to focus on whether to extend the anti-terrorism special legislation, allowing dispatch of members of the Self Defence Forces to Iraq.
Out of 657 votes Koizumi secured 399 votes, leaving far behind the second challenger Shizuka Kamei with 139 votes and other two challengers.
