Disapproval rating for Aso Cabinet tops approval rate: Kyodo poll

TOKYO, Nov. 10 Kyodo - The disapproval rating for Prime Minister Taro Aso's Cabinet has risen to 42.2 percent, exceeding the approval rating, which came to 40.9 percent, for the first time since the launch of the Cabinet in late September, a Kyodo News weekend survey showed Monday.

The approval rating declined 1.6 percentage points from the previous survey on
Oct. 18 to 19, while the disapproval rating climbed 3.2 points, according to
the nationwide telephone survey conducted Saturday and Sunday, which received
responses from 1,027 eligible voters.
Among those who said they do not support the Cabinet, 27.9 percent responded
that they do not appreciate Aso's economic policies, up 5.3 points.
Even among those who said they support the Cabinet, only 13.3 percent cited
Aso's economic policies as a reason for their support.
The poll also found that 58.1 percent of respondents do not support the 2
trillion yen of cash benefits that Aso has proposed delivering to all
households by the end of March, surpassing 31.4 percent who expressed support.
On Aso's overall additional economic stimulus package worth 26.9 trillion yen,
37.1 percent said they support it, while 47.9 percent said they do not.
The results apparently reflect deep public concern that the effects of the
proposed cash benefits remain unclear and that such lavish government spending
could lead to a financial crisis.
On the premier's willingness to raise the consumption tax in three years' time,
55 percent said they are opposed to raising the tax, while 40.5 percent said
they are in favor, the survey showed.
When announcing the economic stimulus package, Aso said he wants to raise the
consumption tax rate from the current 5 percent in three years after the
economy recovers, in an effort to cover snowballing social security costs in
rapidly aging Japan.
Asked how they plan to use the cash benefits, 50.3 percent of the respondents
said they would use the money for living expenses, while 27.2 percent said they
would save it.
Only 16.9 percent answered they would spend the benefits on entertainment and
luxury items.
Asked about the makeup of the government, 43.2 percent said they would favor an
administration led by the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan while 36.1
percent said they favor an administration led by Aso's Liberal Democratic
Party.
Regarding voting for the proportional representation block in the next House of
Representatives election, 35.5 percent answered they would vote for the DPJ and
33.6 percent for the LDP.
When asked if they would prefer Aso or DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa as prime
minister, Aso scored 51 percent while Ozawa secured 24.4 percent.
Regarding a dissolution of the lower house, 21.2 percent said they would like
the lower house to be dissolved for a general election at the end of this year
after the budget for the next fiscal year is compiled, while 17.9 percent said
it should be dissolved immediately after the next ordinary Diet session
convenes in January.
But the largest proportion of 24.3 percent answered that they would like lower
house members to complete their terms, which are due to expire in September
next year.