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Japan's Koizumi Launches Election Campaign
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=EABD9C:3919ACA

General election to be held September 11





Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi speaks to reporters with a backdrop
of his election campaign poster Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi launched his political campaign Saturday for the snap general
election he has called on September 11.

The prime minister says the focal point of the election will be his
proposal for privatization of Japan's national postal system, a
sprawling business empire that includes savings institutions with
three trillion dollars in assets.

Mr. Koizumi dissolved Parliament and called a general election about
two weeks ago after Japan's upper house voted down postal reforms -
with members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party joining the
majority. LDP leaders have withdrawn support for lawmakers who voted
"no" on August 8, and say they will not be allowed to run for
re-election.

A Yomiuri newspaper poll this week shows support for Mr. Koizumi has
risen to 53.2 percent, up 5.5 percentage points since he dissolved
Parliament.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.


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