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Political Big Bang predicted
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POLITICIANS from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) prepared yesterday for a party election which officially kicks off later this week to select the successor to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.
Though no contender has declared their candidacy, the race is expected to be a duel between former prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto -- backed by the biggest faction in the LDP -- and self-styled reformer Junichiro Koizumi.
The LDP, the long-dominant party, has decided to officially begin the election campaign on Wednesday and to hold the poll on April 24 to replace Mori as party chief, and hence almost certainly as premier, given its dominant position in parliament.
LDP Secretary General Makoto Koga said yesterday that although the term for the next prime minister will end in September under party rules, he hoped that the winner would remain in office longer.
"We are hoping for a long-term administration," Koga told national broadcaster NHK.
Mori, whose popularity vanished after a string of scandals and blunders during his year in office, finally announced on Friday that he would resign.
Ruling party lawmakers had been keen to oust Mori in the hope that replacing him would improve their chances in a key Upper House election set for July.
Domestic media said that winning the support of LDP policy chief Shizuka Kamei and his faction would be a key factor in deciding who would become the next country's leader.(SD-Agencies)
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