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Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda presented his new cabinet on Saturday after a reshuffle aimed at boosting his ratings with voters.
Fukuda tapped popular rival, former foreign minister Taro Aso, for a key ruling party post and drafted a mix of veterans and fresh faces to put his stamp on economic policy.
However, it was unclear whether the personnel revamp would give much of a boost to Fukuda's support rates, recently languishing around 25 per cent.
"If the cabinet's support rates remain low, there is a possibility that moves to oust Fukuda will become public," said an editorial in the Mainichi newspaper.
"That is why some think that the appointment of Aso is a strategic step toward replacing Fukuda ahead of the election."
No lower house election need be held until September 2009, but there is speculation that Fukuda, or his successor, may call a snap poll to seek a mandate to break the deadlock.
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