The Upper House election next month will be a referendum on his government's achievements and efforts to clear up a series of scandals that have dented its popularity, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday.
Abe has seen his support rates decline steadily during his nine months in office, and the runup to the July 29 vote has become a fight for his political survival.
Voters will be watching to see how the government resolves the problems — especially the pension scandal, Abe said in an interview on NHK's "Sunday Debate."