Confidence in the current cabinet has slipped still further, with just 28% of the population still supporting the government, according to a poll of 23,000 people by tv programme EénVandaag.

In December, shortly after the economic crisis began, ministers had the support of 37% of the population. The current government is a coalition of the Christian Democrats, Labour and ChristenUnie.
Support for finance minister Wouter Bos has also fallen. He now gets 5.1 out of 10 for his performance, compared with 5.8 in December. Nevertheless, he is still the most respected minister, ahead of premier Jan Peter Balkenende and transport minister Camiel Eurlings.
In a second poll carried out for BNR radio, two-thirds of employers said the cabinet has done little to help industry and 97% said their company has not profited from any of the government’s crisis busting measures.
Employers gave the cabinet 5.7 out of 10. Nevertheless, 60% of employers said the Netherlands has benefited from the current cabinet, despite the economic crisis.