Thaindian News

Tokyo, May 16 (IANS) The majority of Japanese people are dissatisfied with the government’s post-disaster handling but are in favour of a tax hike to raise funds for restoration efforts following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Xinhua reported Monday.

According to the Mainichi Daily News survey, 58 percent of voters favour a tax increase to secure funds for reconstruction initiatives, compared to 33 percent who are opposed to the plan.

Asked about their views on the government’s handling of the Fukushima nuclear plant crisis, 23 percent said they were completely dissatisfied, while 45 percent said they were not very satisfied, the poll showed.

The survey, conducted April 16 and 17, also revealed that 58 percent of respondents did not trust the government’s announcements about the release of radioactive material from the plant.

In addition, the survey revealed that 78 percent of respondents said Kan has not shown enough leadership in responding to the triple disasters.

Fifty percent said they disapproved with the way the government has been supporting disaster-stricken areas, compared with 46 percent who approved of the government’s actions.

Support for Prime Minister Kan’s Cabinet stood at 22 percent, the daily reported, marginally higher than a previous poll taken in February, but still the second lowest rating on record since the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) came to power.

When asked how long they want Prime Minister Kan to stay in office, the most popular response to the survey was “until the disaster response efforts are mostly taken care of,” with 54 percent respondents in favour.

Twenty-six percent said they wanted the prime minister to quit immediately, according to the poll.