Nearly half of the population (45%) hopes the present government will fall, with just 38% wanting prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and his ministers to stay put for their full four year term which ends in 2011.

The figures come from the latest Maurice de Hond poll published on Sunday.
Only those who voted for the governing Christian Democrat, Labour and ChristenUnie parties showed a slight preference for a full term.
Christian Democrat voters were the most negative, with 33% hoping the government will fall this year, closely followed by Labour voters on 27%. ChristenUnie voters were the most content with just 14% wanting the government to fall.