Tokyo - Mr Junichiro Koizumi, a self-styled reformer with a nationalist tinge, concluded a policy deal with his coalition partners yesterday, clearing the way for his election as Japan's 11th prime minister in 13 years.
On Tuesday in the race to lead Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) party his "Change the LDP, Change Japan" platform won resounding support from local party members deeply concerned they may lose the July election for parliament's upper house, but has left doubts about how his reformist statements will translate into policies.
Mr Koizumi and his partners from the Buddhist-backed New Komeito Party and the tiny New Conservatives, reached a broad agreement, including confirmation of a planned package of steps to boost confidence in the share market and eliminate banks' bad loans.