Koichi Kato, former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, has stepped up his criticism of the embattled Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, saying that he has "no intention at all" of accepting a possible request from Mori to join his Cabinet.
Speaking on a Thursday night TV program, Kato, seen as one of the most likely candidates to replace Mori, said he differs from Mori "in (his) approach to the people," adding that he did not think he can work under the prime minister.
Kato's comment came as media surveys show Mori's popular support ratings declining sharply. He has also been under the gun since his right-hand man, Hidenao Nakagawa, resigned as chief Cabinet secretary over a series of scandals.