日本鸠山由纪夫政府支持率跌破50%

日本首相鸠山由纪夫

日本新政府的公众支持率跌破了50%，这主要是因为预算限制以及执政联盟内部的关系紧张，使得新任首相鸠山由纪夫(Yukio Hatoyama)难以兑现其主要施政承诺。

Public support for Japan's new government fell below 50% as budget constraints and internal tensions within the ruling coalition threaten Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's major policy pledges.

新政府从原有承诺上退缩的最新举动是，由于预算吃紧，鸠山由纪夫政府未能完全兑现取消汽油附加费的竞选承诺，而是宣布用一项新税取代原来的税。这一承诺原本是鸠山内阁结束不受欢迎的税项和政府收费，以刺激消费支出的整体措施之一。

In its latest retreat, the Hatoyama administration relented on a campaign pledge to drop surcharges on gasoline amid tight budget constraints, saying it would replace the tax with a new one. The pledge was part of an effort to end unpopular taxes and government fees, and to spur consumer spending.

鸠山由纪夫周一说，我必须坦诚道歉，因为我们没有兑现取消汽油附加费的竞选承诺。

'I must apologize candidly for breaking our campaign promise' to drop the gasoline surcharge, Mr. Hatoyama said Monday.

日本《朝日新闻》(Asahi Shimbun)报导，过去这个周末鸠山由纪夫政府的支持率跌到了48%，而一个月前则是62%，9月份鸠山由纪夫就职时为71%。报纸调查了2,115名受访者，询问他们是否支持鸠山由纪夫内阁。

His government's approval rating fell to 48% over the weekend, from 62% a month ago and from 71% when he took office in September, according to the Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun. The newspaper surveyed 2,115 respondents, asking if they supported the Hatoyama cabinet.

《朝日新闻》的调查结果与日本时事通讯社(Jiji Press)上周五公布的调查情况类似。时事通讯社上周对约2,000名成年受访者进行了民意调查，调查结果显示，日本新政府的支持率已经跌至46.8%。

Asahi's poll followed similar results in a survey released Friday by Jiji Press, showing that support for the cabinet had dropped to 46.8%. That survey, conducted last week, included about 2,000 adults.

上述民意调查结果与8月份相比出现了明显变化，当时鸠山由纪夫的日本民主党(DPJ)在日本大选中彻底击败了长期把持日本政权的自民党(LDP)，因为日本选民普遍对日本疲软的经济和长期增长前景感到担忧。

The results represent a sharp turnaround from August, when Mr. Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan trounced the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party in national elections amid widespread voter concerns over the nation's soft economy and long-term growth prospects.

民众对通货紧缩的担忧日渐加深，一些经济学家认为通货紧缩可能会导致日本经济二次探底。通货紧缩会侵蚀公司利润，促使企业裁员，使得消费者不愿进行大笔消费，因为他们都想等待物价进一步下滑。

Public fears are growing over deflation, which some economists believe could send Japan into a double-dip recession. Deflation eats into corporate profits, leading to cutbacks, and keeps consumers from making big purchases as they wait for prices to fall further.

不过，《朝日新闻》的民意调查也显示，鸠山由纪夫还有回旋余地。虽然日本民主党的整体支持率为42%，但自民党的支持率仅为18%。

Still, the Asahi poll suggests Mr. Hatoyama has room to maneuver. While overall support for his DPJ was 42%, support for the LDP was far lower at 18%.