Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi failed Thursday to make his "no faction" policy an official party strategy for the upcoming House of Councilors election.
In a ceremony to hand certificates of support to Liberal Democratic Party candidates, Koizumi only said, "I hope each of you will consider leaving your factions instead of relying on supporting organizations and lawmakers (mobilized by faction-led systems)."
He made the remark after meeting LDP Secretary General Taku Yamasaki, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki and other senior LDP members at party headquarters.