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Mr Fukuda has rejected the opposition's demands to call a general election, which does not need to be held until September 2009. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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TOKYO - PUBLIC support for the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is continuing to slide, with a poll on Monday putting its approval rating at 40 per cent.
Mr Fukuda has been embroiled in legislative fights over a series of issues including a plan to maintain a fuel tax. The opposition controls one house of parliament and is pushing for early general elections.
Approval for the Mr Fukuda cabinet was down two percentage points from January in the poll by the Nikkei business newspaper. Disapproval rose two points to 48 per cent.
Mr Fukuda's perceived lack of leadership was the most common reason cited for disapproval of the government, it said.
The 71-year-old political veteran took office in September after his predecessor Shinzo Abe resigned in the wake of scandals, an election defeat and sliding poll numbers.
Mr Fukuda has rejected the opposition's demands to call a general election, which does not need to be held until September 2009.
The Nikkei conducted the telephone survey from Friday through Sunday of 1,530 households. -- AFP
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