Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, suffering from a drop in support ratings, vowed yesterday to push ahead with reforms and to revise the US drafted pacifist constitution, a task that he said would be “historic”.

The 52-year-old Abe’s popularity has taken a beating after less than three months in office, largely due to doubts about his commitment to economic reforms that were begun by his predecessor Junichiro Koizumi.

“I would like to state that my stance towards reforms is unwavering”, Abe told a televised news conference marking the end of the parliament session.

He defended his decision – seen by voters as back-pedalling of reforms – to allow back to his party 11 lawmakers who were expelled last year for voting against the privatisation of Japan’s sprawling postal system, Koizumi’s pet project.

Koizumi called a snap election after kicking out the “postal rebels”, making postal reform the key focus of the September lower house poll in which the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) scored a landslide victory.

“Our efforts at building a new and beautiful nation has been bolstered by the addition of new forces”, Abe said, referring to the lawmakers whom he let back earlier this month after he made them submit written pledges to back postal privatisation.

A survey released by Jiji news agency last week showed Abe’s support at 41.9 percent, down 9.5 points from the previous month, in line with results of other polls.

Abe said the budget for the upcoming fiscal year starting in April showed his resolve to stick to fiscal consolidation.

“I think we were able to show people at home and abroad our intention of maintaining fiscal discipline”, he said, adding that new government bond issuance would be cut by the largest amount on record in next year’s budget.