1. Wide of leaders of Japanese political parties gathering for debate 2. Cutaway of media 3. Wide of leaders of Japanese political parties 4. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Japanese Prime Minister: "I promised that I would continue economic growth and reform. Since my inauguration I have succeeded in creating six hundred thousand jobs. I also proceeded the 237 plans for those to find jobs after they'd lost one and put 35 thousand part timers into regular jobs. The economy is growing strongly." 5. Various cutaways of media 6. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Japanese Prime Minister: "We have a plan to bring back the primary balance to black by 2011. We will do the cost cut from 11 (t) trillion to 12 (t) trillion Japanese yen. Furthermore, we will accomplish just less than four-percent of nominal economic growth. But, we might be able to achieve all of these targets, there might be a possibility that we do not have to hike consumption tax. But, the economy is unpredictable and there is a case we cannot reach there." 7. Wide of leaders of Japanese political parties 8. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Japanese Prime Minister: "We would put the bill to revise constitution at the diet after three years from now. I put this constriction revision on my political agenda in my tenure. We already presented the proposal discussed at our party. I wish this proposal to become the blueprint for the people of Japan to debate on this issue. But, we need a two third majority to put the bill at the diet. This is the reality so we need to put an effort for it." 9. Wide of news conference STORYLINE: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came under fire from nearly all sides on Wednesday as political party heads squared off in a debate on the eve of campaigning for upper house elections that will critically test his faltering government. The swirl of scandals that has enveloped Abe's government was a top focus of the political sparring, as opposition parties seek to gain ground and Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party tries to salvage waning support with less than three weeks before the elections. The main opposition Democratic Party targeted Abe's handling of a scandal resulting from the loss of pension records for (m) millions of retirees, while the Social Democratic Party criticised Abe's push to revise the country's pacifist constitution and give Japan's military a greater international profile. But Abe defended his position; "Since my inauguration I have succeeded in creating six hundred thousand jobs. I also proceeded the 237 plans for those to find jobs after they'd lost one and put 35 thousand part timers into regular jobs." "The economy is growing strongly," he added. Abe's popularity has dipped to all-time lows in recent weeks and a humiliating loss in the July 29 vote could prompt party leaders to demand he step down. The official campaigning kicks off on Thursday. The upper house is the less powerful, largely ceremonial chamber in Japan's two-house parliament. While the lower house can pass some legislation without the upper house's consent, the upper house still is able to veto other kinds of legislation. The polls are for half of the 242-seat chamber. Abe's Liberal Democratic Party controls the chamber with a coalition partner for a combined 132 seats. Aside from the debate over policy, Abe is also under pressure over a series of scandals that led to three Cabinet ministers being replaced. Akagi had just taken office to replace Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who committed suicide in May, just hours before he was to face questioning in Japan's parliament over several money scandals. He was also forced to resign. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/cc7a94ddc10b54bedd1b5b5334c95cc3 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 04 Aug 2015
• views: 0