60153    Mr. Kaifu, who was in second place after Mr. Murayama, obtained the highest rating, 60% in the NFP, though it seems rather natural.

60154    Members of the NFP, which demands an early dissolution and general election, wrote Kaifu's name with a hope of the reversal of the ruling and opposition parties and the following creation of a Kaifu administration.

60155    However, the approval rating for Mr. Kaifu in the NFP varies among nine party factions.

60156    This is largely attributable to the fact that there were more than a few members who mentioned the name of Tsutomu Hata, deputy chief of the NFP.

60157    Mr. Hata obtained a total of 10% among the NFP members, with 20% in the former Democratic Socialist Party, 16% in the former Japan Renewal Party and 8% in the former Japan New Party.

60158    If there is still some ill-feeling left from the presidential election, the Hata's popularity might cause trouble in the party.

60159    Hata received a favorable rating of 4% among lower house members, coming in third.

60160    Mr. Yohei Kono, President of the LDP, the largest party, received only 3%; his favorable rating is at a single-digit low level, 8%, even in his home ground of the LDP.

60161    Although he is the president of the dominant ruling party, there is a prevailing view that it will be difficult for him to win the premiership.

60162    In the questionnaire, twelve other names were mentioned, including International Trade and Industry Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Michio Watanabe, and LDP Vice President Keizo Obuchi.

60163    On the other hand, those who did not give any name, including those who answered "I don't know," accounted for as much as 36%, which clearly showed that many lower house members had the idea, "It is impossible to predict one year ahead," in today's fluxing political situation, with three different prime ministers in one year.

60164    The questionnaire also asked the lower house members to give the names of the party leaders and cadre toward whom they have a favorable opinion.

60165    Mr. Hata outpolled Mr. Kaifu by 25% in the NFP, 65% to 40%

60166    The survey unveiled a remarkable tendency that Mr. Ozawa's favorable rating was considerably high in the NFP, but extremely low in the ruling parties.

60167    It is considered inescapable that the new Congress led by the Republican Party, starting on January 4th, will assert a tough line against Russia and place strong pressure on the Clinton administration.