TOKYO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Support for Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is at a record low, a poll found Tuesday.
The Japanese daily Asahi Shinbun's survey of about 1,900 voters found that only 33 percent of those polled approved of Koizumi's government.
It was the lowest support level of the current government since Koizumi took office in April 2001. At that time, the prime minister was supported by 84 percent of those polled.
Despite their lack of approval, 53 percent said they wanted Koizumi to continue as prime minister until the end of his term as president of the Liberal Democratic Party in autumn 2006; 34 percent said they did not want him to remain in office.
The newspaper said a lack of alternatives to fill the post accounted for the general tolerance toward Koizumi as prime minister. Asked to suggest a replacement, 66 percent had no idea.
