Koizumi to return to power by spring, says Rheinwald - General - FinanceAsia.com - The network for financial decision makers

Koizumi to return to power by spring, says Rheinwald - General - FinanceAsia.com - The network for financial decision makers: "Koizumi to return to power by spring, says Rheinwald By Dan Slater | 20 September 2007 CLSA analyst Stefan Rheinwald predicts a return to power for Koizumi by spring 2008 and the Nikkei to hit 23,000 points. CLSA analyst Stefan Rheinwald predicted the demise of Yasuo Fukuda at the general election and a triumphant return to politics for Junichiro Koizumi at the third day of the CLSA forum in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Koizumi served as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and prime minister of Japan between 2001 and 2006. Fukuda is the name of a candidate who has been touted as the successor of Shinzo Abe, who resigned last week on the back of disastrous personal approval ratings and ill health. The political schedule comprises an internal election for the party leadership, followed by a general election next year in spring for the post of president. As in the United Kingdom, the leader of the winning party becomes leader of the country. “Koizumi is one of the few politicians with the vision and creativity to push the country forward. Other Japanese politicians are too focussed on consensus,” says Rheinwald. 'In addition, Koizumi was brilliant at working the system. Even if it sometimes looked as if he was taking one step back for ever"