Japan's gaffe-prone prime minister, Taro¹ Aso, has criticized ailing² elderly people for not staying healthy, a comment that could further damage his flagging support in the world's most rapidly ageing country.

In the space of a couple of weeks, 68-year-old Aso has offended doctors and parents of small children and upset various factions³ in his own party, in a string of verbal blunders that have left some analysts⁴ wondering about his grip on power.

Commenting on Japan's ballooning medical expenses, the Aso told the government's top economic advisory⁵ panel that he tried to stay healthy by taking a daily walk, and questioned why his tax payments should go to fund medical care for others who were more lax.

"Going to class reunions at the age of 67 or 68, I see feeble old people who go to the doctor's a lot," Aso told the panel, minutes of the November 20 meeting showed.

"My medical expenses are a lot lower because I walk and so on," said Aso, who comes from a wealthy family. "Why should I have to pay for those who just eat and drink and make no effort?"

Aso, 68, added that incentives⁶ should be introduced for those who maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Aso's top aide, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura, told a news conference on Thursday that the prime minister had wanted to stress a need for self-help efforts to maintain health and had not intended to criticize sick people or Japan's medical system.

Kawamura, however, added: "If his comments hurt any feelings, I apologize. But I would like to say that was not his intention."

Asked how he feels about being asked repeatedly to explain Aso's comments in recent weeks, Kawamura gave a bitter smile and said: "It would be better if I did not have to explain them.

"But it's part of his character and there may be various comments from now on, and it is my job to make efforts to let everyone understand his real intention."

Just over a week ago, Aso was forced to apologise after accusing doctors, an important political interest group, of lacking common sense. Last year he was criticized for joking about Alzheimer's disease.

Aso had been expected to call asnap election after taking office in September following the sudden resignation of his predecessor⁷, Yasuo Fukuda.

But the fallout from the world financial crisis and his party's weak performance in opinion polls have delayed the poll.

日本“大嘴”首相麻生太郎日前再度失言，他指责本国老年人身体不好，动不动就生病。麻生的此番言论可能会使其低迷的民众支持率进一步下跌。日本是目前世界上人口老龄化最快的国家。

68岁的麻生首相在上任后的短短几周内就已经得罪了医生和小学生家长，也令其所属自民党内的几个派系感到不满。他的频频失言让一些分析人士不禁怀疑他的执政能力。

麻生于11月20日与政府高级经济顾问团讨论医疗费用不断上升的问题时说，为了保持身体健康，他每天都散步，并且质疑为什么他要为那些无所事事的老年人承担医疗费用。

据当天的会议记录显示，麻生在会上说：“这两年我去参加同学会时发现一些同学经常去医院看病。”

这位出生“富贵”的首相先生说：“我的医疗费用就比较少，因为我经常散散步或进行一些其它锻炼，为什么我要为那些整天只知道吃喝却无所事事的人承担医疗费呢？”

他还说应对那些保持健康生活方式的人予以奖励。

麻生的高级助手、日本内阁官房长官河村建夫在上周四举行的新闻发布会上称，麻生的此番言论意在强调自我保健的重要性，无意指责病人或日本的医疗制度。

他还说：“如果他的这番话伤害了一些人的感情，我深感抱歉。但我想说这并非他的本意。”

在被问及最近几周屡次替麻生解围作何感想时，河村苦笑道：“如果不必替他做解释当然更好。”

他说：“但这是他的性格，今后可能还会出现各种类似的情况。而我的任务就是让人们理解他的真实意图。”

仅在一周前，麻生就因指责医生缺乏常识而被迫公开道歉。医生在日本是一个重要的政治利益集团。去年他还因拿老年痴呆症患者开玩笑而受到谴责。

麻生于今年九月接替突然辞职的福田康夫出任日本首相，此后一直有舆论预测他会提前举行众院选举。

但由于受全球金融危机及自民党民众支持率持续走低的影响，选举已经被推迟。