Japan PM Says Won`t Quit Despite Ratings Fall

`I won`t abandon the leadership,` Aso told Fuji Television.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Monday he would not resign despite a series of public opinion polls showing support for him falling below 20 percent as he tries to revive the recession-hit economy.

In a sign of Aso's fraying control, a former Japanese financial services minister said he would quit the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party, after weeks of criticising Aso's policies.

"I won't abandon the leadership," Aso told Fuji Television.

Aso's two predecessors quit after about a year in office after their popularity ratings collapsed, while other past premiers with high disapproval ratings either resigned or lost no-confidence votes.

Aso said now was not the time to call a snap election because priority was on measures to help the struggling economy. An election for parliament's powerful lower house must be held this year.

Speculation has simmered that some LDP lawmakers could bolt the party and join the opposition in blocking budget-related bills in parliament over the coming months. [ID:nT358827]

Yoshimi Watanabe, a former financial services minister, told reporters he would give a letter to the LDP on Tuesday saying he would leave the party, but analysts doubt he will draw support from many fellow lawmakers.

Aso has struggled to show leadership on reviving the economy.

Despite having announced a record budget for the fiscal year starting in April and two other extra budgets for the current year, Aso has been criticised by the opposition and even by lawmakers within his party over how the money will be spent.