TOKYO: Support for Japan’s ruling coalition has declined further, according to a new poll released Wednesday (Oct 30), after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s party recorded its worst election result in 15 years.

Support for the government dropped to 34 percent, while disapproval rose to 51 percent, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun daily’s survey.

During Ishiba’s short honeymoon period after taking office on October 1the same survey found that 51 percent supported his cabinet compared to 32 percent who did not.

According to another poll by Kyodo News released Tuesday, 53 percent of respondents said they do not want the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito to remain in power.

Sunday’s early elections left the coalition without a majority for the first time since 2009 – when he was ousted from power for three years – 18 seats short of the 233 needed.

Ishiba has already indicated that he will seeking to govern a minority administration and seek approval from other parties to pass legislation through Parliament.

This expectation was reinforced on Tuesday evening when the leader of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), a potential kingmaker, which has 28 seats, ruled out joining the PLD in a coalition government.

“We will give all our strength to realize our policies and we will not join the coalition,” DPP leader Yuichiro Tamaki said at a news conference.