Support for Japan PM dives as scandals simmer

The polls were taken after Tokyo prosecutors last week decided there was “insufficient evidence” to file charges against political kingmaker, Ichiro Ozawa, following an investigation into allegations of bribery.

Ozawa, a veteran politician and architect of centre-left Hatoyama's landslide election victory in August, had faced allegations that he laundered bribe money from a construction firm.

Prosecutors indicted three of Ozawa's current and former aides for alleged accounting irregularities.

The conservative Yomiuri daily said the disapproval rating for Hatoyama's cabinet rose five points from last month to 47 percent, overtaking the approval rating, which stood at 44 percent, for the first time.

The liberal, Asahi Shimbun, said Hatoyama's disapproval rating increased to 45 percent, overtaking the approval rating at 41 percent.

Yomiuri said 74 percent believed Ozawa should quit the number-two post of secretary general in the ruling Democratic Party, while Asahi said 68 percent responded likewise. Both surveys polled more than 1,000 voters.

Japan's opposition has been on the offensive over the scandals involving Ozawa and Hatoyama, who also faces allegations that he tried to evade inheritance tax.

“Insufficient evidence only means the case (of Ozawa) remains in the grey zone,” said Toshimitsu Motegi, a member of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, in a debate program on public broadcaster NHK.

“We will continue pursuing facts in parliament sessions.”

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