Japan’s New Ruling Party Chief Lines Up Candidates for Top Posts

In the first test of his willingness to shake up Japan’s hidebound governing party, premier-in-waiting Junichiro Koizumi today firmed up the lineup for a trio of top party posts, including among them a longtime ally and a recent rival.

Koizumi is to be voted in as prime minister Thursday by parliament after winning the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, on Tuesday. He soundly beat the favorite of the party’s old guard, former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, in the 298-155 vote.

The LDP poll was called after the ruling coalition decided to ditch hugely unpopular Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to boost its chances in July elections for the upper house of parliament.

Domestic media said Koizumi had chosen close ally Taku Yamasaki for secretary-general of the LDP, a post that has a key say in party matters. A former LDP policy chief, Yamasaki was a key supporter of Koizumi’s bid to become party president.

Former Trade Minister Mitsuo Horiuchi, whose LDP faction had at first backed Hashimoto in the party race, was to be appointed head of the LDP’s decision-making General Council, media said.