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In debate, Japan PM urges voters to stay course

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-12 21:20

TOKYO: Japan's prime minister urged voters Wednesday to stick with his long-ruling party in this month's elections because it has produced results while the opposition, which is surging in popularity, has not proven it can carry through with its promises.

A combination photo shows Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (L), who is also Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader, and main opposition Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama during their debate session in Tokyo August 12, 2009. [Agencies]

The first debate between Prime Minister Taro Aso and opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama showed Aso, whose party is an underdog in the Aug. 30 parliamentary elections, on the defensive.

"They promise spending and programs that will cost money, but they do not explain how to pay for these things," Aso said of Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan. "This is irresponsible."

Aso's Liberal Democratic Party has governed for virtually all of the past 55 years, but the elections for the lower house of parliament are the most hotly contested Japan has seen in decades.

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Aso's party is widely forecast to lose its control of the chamber and thus give up its hold on choosing who becomes the next prime minister.

"These elections are about a change of government," Hatoyama said. "I intend to respond to the people's desire for change."

Wednesday's debate, the first between the two leaders, focused almost entirely on domestic political issues, particularly taxes and economic recovery policies.

Hatoyama said he would cut wasteful spending and hammered Aso on the ruling party's plans to raise the national sales tax by 2011.

Aso responded that the hike would only happen if Japan's economy, which is suffering from a serious slowdown, improves enough for the increase not to hamper spending.

Aso raised national security just before the debate closed, suggesting the Democrats would be weak on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which conducted a nuclear test in May and has missiles that can reach all of the Japanese islands.

Hatoyama said his party understands the importance of continuity on security issues.

"We would not change things overnight," he said.

But, without elaborating, he added that Japan must reconsider its security policies to make sure they are effective.