With the extended 190-day Diet session having closed Monday, lawmakers' attention is shifting to the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election on Sept. 20, the new Cabinet that will immediately follow it and the expected House of Representatives poll in November.
In the absence of promising contenders, Junichiro Koizumi is widely expected to win re-election as LDP chief and thus retain the prime ministership. Due to recent changes in party rules, he would, if re-elected, have three more years in office after his current term expires Sept. 30.
Although discontent over his economic policies is widespread among the LDP's major factions, they have yet to come up with someone who can match Koizumi's high popular support so they can throw their hat into the ring when the party election campaign officially starts Sept. 8.