After compromising with the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet adopted a watered-down plan Monday to privatize the state-run postal services by 2017.
The government presented its draft plan, the culmination of discussions among Cabinet ministers over the weekend, to LDP executives later in the day. Although it outlines a soft landing for the privatization, it remains to be seen whether the latest plan will win over lawmakers adamantly opposed to the move.
Koizumi hopes to gain LDP approval for the plan by the end of the week so related bills can be submitted to the Diet by month's end. But given the stiff objection to the privatization proposal seen so far, a political showdown appears all but inevitable.