Koizumi formally announces retirement, names son as successor

YOKOSUKA, Japan, Sept. 27 Kyodo - Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi formally announced on Saturday his intention to retire from politics, saying he will not run in an upcoming House
of Representatives election.

Koizumi, 66, also named his second son and secretary, 27-year-old Shinjiro
Koizumi, as heir apparent to succeed him in his constituency, the Kanagawa No.
11 district of the lower house.
''I believe I have served out my role as a Diet member by carrying out the
grave responsibilities of prime minister,'' Koizumi said before a packed crowd
of supporters at a meeting in his home district of Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Prefecture. ''I bet my entire life as prime minister and have realized that I
can bet no more.''
Of his son, he said, ''I might be called a silly parent, but I think he is more
reliable than I was when I was 27 years old. I would appreciate it greatly if
you could provide Shinjiro with your generous support.''
Koizumi did acknowledge criticism about giving his political base to his son,
saying, ''I too was criticized for being a third-generation politician.'' But
he reminded his supporters that they ''cheered for me and let me win
elections.''
Taking the podium from his father, the younger Koizumi said, ''I've made up my
mind to stand in the next House of Representatives election'' from Yokosuka and
Miura, his father's constituency.
''I will do my best so I can become a politician who can have you get high
hopes on politics. I would like to ask you for your continued support,'' he
said to a roaring crowd.
Shinjiro Koizumi has been working in his father's office as a secretary for
about a year after he returned to Japan in June last year following graduate
studies at Columbia University in New York City and then a stint at a think
tank in Washington.
New Prime Minister Taro Aso is seeking to dissolve the lower house at an early
date for a general election.
Although retiring as a lawmaker, Koizumi said he intends to continue
''political activities,'' which he said include using his advisory post at a
think tank specializing in international affairs.
He said he wants to focus his energy on two policy areas -- making
environmental protection and economic development work, and food safety.
As to why he made the announcement at this timing, Koizumi said, ''After
finishing my tenure as prime minister, frankly speaking, I also wanted to quit
as a lawmaker immediately afterward...but I thought it would be problematic if
I quit without serving out my term (as a lawmaker).''
Koizumi, currently in his 12th term, was first elected to the lower house in
1972 and subsequently reelected 11 times. Besides his premiership, he has been
health minister and posts and telecommunications minister.
Serving as prime minister from April 2001 to September 2006, Koizumi promoted
structural reforms including privatization of Japan's postal system as well as
road-related public corporations.
While in office, he made two trips to Pyongyang -- in September 2002 and May
2004 -- for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and secured the release
of five Japanese abductees and their families.
He led his ruling Liberal Democratic Party to a landslide victory in the 2005
House of Representatives election, focusing campaigning on the issue of postal
privatization.
Koizumi also remained a staunch supporter of the United States, Japan's closest
security ally. When the United States went to war against Iraq in 2003, he
quickly expressed support for the U.S.-led invasion.
But Japan's diplomatic ties with China and South Korea soured during his term
as he repeatedly visited the war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.
Critics say Koizumi's structural reform drive has widened income disparity as
well as gaps between urban and rural areas.