Japan Government Support Falls to 9.7%

Japan Government Support Falls to 9.7%
Topics:Politics & Government | Economy (Global) | Japan | Earnings
By: Associated Press | 15 Feb 2009 | 08:53 PM ET
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Public
support for Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's cabinet has slumped to
9.7 percent, broadcaster NTV said on Sunday, a level likely to boost
calls to replace him ahead of an election that must be held by October.

CNBC.com
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Aso's
support has been sliding after a series of policy flip-flops and gaffes
as he struggles with a deepening recession, a divided parliament and a
fractious ruling party.
The
poll results were the latest bad news for the 68-year-old Aso as he
prepares for a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from
Monday.
Recent
surveys suggest the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
stands a good chance of winning the next election for parliament's
powerful lower house.
That
would end more than 50 years of almost unbroken LDP rule and usher in a
government pledged to break the grip bureaucrats have on policy, reduce
social gaps that critics say widened because of Koizumi's reforms, and
adopt a diplomatic stance more independent of Washington.
Clinton was expected to meet DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa on Tuesday to sound out his views on the alliance.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) tapped Aso last September in hopes he could lead them to victory at the polls.
Instead, his support has declined sharply, making him wary of calling a snap election. Aso
has repeatedly said his top priority is to rescue the economy from
recession, and on Sunday Kyodo news agency reported the government
would draft additional steps that could require up to 20 trillion yen
($217.6 billion) in new spending.