Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Liberal Democratic Party chief Shinzo Abe intend to hold a public face-to-face debate on an Internet program Thursday to clarify their policy differences before the general election, sources in the two parties said Saturday.
Noda indicated his willingness to hold such a debate earlier in the day, and his ruling Democratic Party of Japan had been planning to approach the LDP over the proposal Monday, the sources said.
On Saturday evening, however, Abe informed reporters that he is prepared to hold a one-on-one debate with Noda on an online program Thursday. The Lower House poll will take place Dec. 16.