A House of Councilors member who played a key role in nixing the government's postal privatization bills last month said Tuesday he and 10 other rebels will back them this time, making their passage this month a virtual certainty.
The bills are expected to be resubmitted during a special Diet session starting Sept. 21.
Hirofumi Nakasone, who leads a group of Upper House members in the Liberal Democratic Party faction once headed by former LDP policy chief Shizuka Kamei, said he and 10 other colleagues who voted against the bills will support them this time when the government resubmits them soon to the Diet.
"Eleven members, including me, share the same intention," Nakasone said.
In all, more than 20 of the 28 Upper House LDP members who either voted against the bills or abstained have reportedly indicated an about-face.
"Yes, I think (passage) has become certain," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters later Tuesday at the prime minister's office. "I think it means they will respect the will of the people."
