Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is set to reshuffle his cabinet and the senior management level of the ruling party on Monday, paying the way for the succession of his policies one year before stepping down.

The hot topic for the third cabinet reshuffle in his premier terms is the appointments of four figures regarded as potential candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party's leader as well as the next premier.

They are LDP Acting Secretary General Shinzo Abe, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Taro Aso, and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda.

Among the would-be premiers, Abe was widely considered here a stronger contender.

The 51-year-old is the grandson of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi and served as LDP secretary general. He is known as a hardliner in foreign policies.

Economic and fiscal policy minister Heizo Takenaka is expected to retain his post to carry through the structural reforms ardently advocated by Koizumi.

Koizumi's last term as the leader of the LDP expires next September. He has dismissed the possibility of serving a new term as the party's resident as well as the prime minister.

Kazuo Kitagawa, minister of land, infrastructure and transport, was also tipped to stay in office as the only cabinet member from the LDP's ruling partner -- the New Komeito party.

Koizumi last conducted a major cabinet reshuffle in September 2004.

Source: Xinhua