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TOKYO - JAPAN'S prime minister offered an apology on Friday for a growing scandal over millions of lost pension records and promised to deliver policies focusing on consumers and everyday people.
'The political responsibility is heavy,' Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said at a New Year's news conference.
'I offer my apologies.'
The Japanese government has acknowledged losing track of more than 50 million pension records.
The scandal proved damaging for Mr Fukuda's ruling party, and it lost control of parliament's upper house in nationwide elections in July.
That has made it difficult for Mr Fukuda's administration to get key bills passed. -- AP
Cabinet to stay
Mr Fukuda also said that he wanted his cabinet to stay in place, dismissing reports he would reshuffle his team in January in a bid to bolster flagging support.
'Considering various factors, I want the current cabinet members to stay,' Mr Fukuda told his first press conference of the new year.
Japanese media had reported that senior lawmakers in Mr Fukuda's ruling party were demanding a reshuffle with government approval ratings at 31 per cent.
That is the same level as for his predecessor Shinzo Abe when he resigned last year.
Fading public support for Mr Fukuda's government follows a health controversy involving infected blood and a bribery scandal at the defence ministry. -- AFP
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