The sharp fall in the Cabinet's public approval ratings can be blamed on Kunio Hatoyama's resignation Friday over his refusal to back the reappointment of the head of Japan Post, ministers said Tuesday.
State minister Akira Amari, in charge of administrative reform, said Hatoyama's resignation as internal affairs minister "heavily affected" the Cabinet's approval ratings.
Justice Minister Eisuke Mori said he "cannot deny" that Hatoyama's resignation worked to push down the ratings.