On the national network Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Fukuda complained that opponents had refused to even speak with the ruling bloc, stopping policy initiatives aimed at helping the nation.

“We want to talk. But now we are being turned away at the gate of their house,” Fukuda said of the opposition, which gained control of the upper house in elections last July.

“We cannot implement policies if the lower house (controlled by the ruling bloc) and the upper house always disagree,” he said.

Fukuda made several media appearances at the weekend, bidding to show the public he had approached the opposition which has staunchly refused various government initiatives.

Fukuda took office in September after his predecessor Shinzo Abe suddenly stepped down following a crushing defeat in upper house elections and a series of scandals.

Mild-mannered Fukuda has seen his public support slide after the opposition rebuffed key bills, including the appointment of the next central bank chief, whose chair remains empty.

The opposition has also refused a government proposal to keep a special tax on petrol, slated for road projects, at the start of the new Japanese fiscal year.

Dropping the special tax would cause an annual budget deficit worth 2.6 trillion yen (US$26 billion), Fukuda said.

But he said he is willing to change the tax rules a year from now so that income generated can go to areas other than road projects, such as emergency medicine, pensions, environmental protection and education.

The opposition is demanding the changes be made immediately, but Fukuda has countered that the budget is already set.

“If the tax is abolished...we would have no money for local governments. It would affect social welfare, education and a range of other areas,” Fukuda told NHK.

Encouraging petrol use is not appropriate, Fukuda said, particularly ahead of the upcoming Group of Eight summit in Japan, which will feature the environment as a key topic. “Are we saying that we want people to freely use up gasoline, when we are hearing environmental concerns? Can Japan announce proudly that we lowered the gasoline prices to the faces of the world leaders?” he told NHK.

In other areas, Fukuda promised to fight corruption, appoint the Bank of Japan chief as soon as possible, enhance regional diplomacy and to help China with Japanese environmental technologies.

“I am not doing anything flashy. But I have been doing what has to be done,” he said.

He also opposed the possibility of snap elections, demanded by the opposition, and brushed aside speculation of a cabinet reshuffle.

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