Shizuka Kamei, an influential member of the Liberal Democratic Party member, said Sunday he may seek Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's dismissal as head of the LDP if he proceeds with postal privatization.
"According to party rules, the party head can be dismissed with support from the majority" of LDP Diet members and local representatives, said Kamei, a former party policy chief, on a Fuji TV talk show.
Kamei, who has competed with Koizumi for the presidency of the LDP, is among the party members staunchly opposed to privatizing the postal services. The Koizumi administration has strongly promoted the privatization.
"Privatization does not necessarily produce good results. Nobody wants it," he said. "If Prime Minister Koizumi continues to push (for postal reform), he will certainly put himself in a situation where he will have to resign."
Koizumi has said he plans to stay in power until his term as LDP president expires in September 2006.