Flush with his sweeping victory in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed Friday to privatize postal services in April 2007.
In a speech to kick off the extraordinary Diet session, Koizumi reiterated that a blueprint for privatizing the three services -- mail delivery, postal savings and life insurance -- will be drawn up by next autumn and bills submitted to the Diet in 2005.
By citing a specific timetable for the first time in the legislature, Koizumi emphasized his resolve to incorporate the plan into the LDP's platform for the next general election, which is expected to be held in November.