Japan PM's support slides further, polls show

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-08 09:48

TOKYO -- Voter support for Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's government has sunk sharply to around 20 percent, three polls showed on Monday, as he struggles with a fractious party and an economy in recession.

Japan's Prime Minister leaves after an one-on-one debate with opposition Democratic Party leader Ichiro Ozawa at the parliament in Tokyo, November 28, 2008. [Agencies]

The surveys are the latest to show that policy flip-flops and gaffes have eroded the popularity of Aso, chosen by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in hopes he could break the political deadlock in an election due by September 2009.

The 68-year-old premier took office in September after his unpopular predecessor resigned in the face of a divided parliament that is stalling policies in the world's second-biggest economy.

The Yomiuri and Mainichi newspapers put support for Aso's cabinet at 21 percent, while one in the Asahi newspaper put it at 22 percent.

Support for Aso's cabinet nearly halved in the Yomiuri survey from November's approval rating of 41 percent. In the Mainichi survey, support fell 15 points from October, while in the Asahi survey, it dropped 15 points from November.

Aso's declining support has undermined his control over the long-ruling LDP, with many pushing for heftier spending to prop up the floundering economy despite a huge public debt, and others hinting at leaving to form new parties in hopes of bettering their chances in the looming election.

Opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa outranked Aso in all three surveys when voters were asked which of them was most suitable to be premier. In the Yomiuri survey, 36 percent backed Ozawa, against 29 percent who said Aso.

Asked which party they would vote for in the next election, only 24 percent of those polled by the Yomiuri opted for the LDP while 40 percent chose Ozawa's Democrats. Nearly 60 percent in the Yomiuri survey said an election should be held soon.

Two of Aso's predecessors quit after support rate fell under 30 percent, but it is unclear if the LDP could find someone to take his place this time.

Aso has postponed calling a snap election for parliament's lower house that political analysts have said the LDP and its junior partner are in danger of losing.

The Yomiuri survey was conducted over the phone on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, while the Mainichi and Asahi surveys were conducted over the phone on the weekend.