Parliament will select the new prime minister to succeed Junichiro Koizumi on Sept 26, an official of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) official said. The LDP and the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, have agreed on the date, an LDP official said. "It's now assured that Parliament will be summoned on that day," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The new prime minister will likely give his first policy speech to Parliament on Sept 29, with the special parliamentary session expected to last until December, the official said. The LDP meets on Sept 20 to choose a successor to Koizumi, who is retiring. The results of surveys indicate that most LDP members are expected to cast their votes for Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe. Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, are also candidates.