Polls Show Decline of Ishiba Cabinet

Three-month-old Shigeru Ishiba Cabinet seems to have entered a dangerous zone. According to the polls of major newspapers, the approval rate for Ishiba Cabinet continues to decline in January. The poll conducted by Mainichi Shimbun showed 28 percent of approval for Ishiba, below the red line of 30 percent. The biggest reason was that the responders did not see any exercise of leadership by Prime Minister Ishiba.

In the poll of Mainichi, the approval rate declined by 2 percentage points from previous poll in mid-December. The rate of disapproval was 53 percent, the same number as the previous one. Another major reason of disapproval was disappointment on Ishiba’s handling of policies.

 

In these three months, Ishiba has not marked a period on the slush fund scandal, leaving behind the discussion over abolishment of donation from companies and organizations. In the discussion over tax reform, Ishiba administration dismissed the request from the Democratic Party for the People (DPP). His defense policy for creating Asian version of NATO or revision of Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement was refused by the United States. It is broadly said that Ishiba has not shown his leadership as the prime minister.

 

Although the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided to donate 800 million yen to the institute of social welfare, 74 percent of responders did not think it as a solution of secret fund scandal. The support for the LDP stayed at 20 percent, even if it was the largest among the parties. The support for the DPP increased by 2 points to 15 percent, followed by Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) with 11 percent.

 

To a question which would the responders vote for in the election of the House of Councillors this summer, the LDP was the top choice with 17 percent. For a surprise for the party, the LDP was closely approached by the DPP with 16 percent and CDPJ with 14 percent. Only 76 percent of LDP supporters would vote for the LDP in the proportional districts in the election.

 

In the poll by Asahi Shimbun, the approval rate for Ishiba Cabinet was 33 percent, 3 points down from the previous poll in December. Disapproval rose from 43 percent to 51 percent, representing frustration on Ishiba administration. It is significant that 51 percent hoped new administration without the LDP. The poll showed negative recognition on Ishiba’s economic policy with 69 percent of disapproval.

 

The poll by Yomiuri Shimbun indicated mostly no change in the approval rate, which remained at 40 percent. More than a half of responders (54 percent) hoped Ishiba administration to raise the threshold of annual income to pay income tax, indicating firm support for the DPP. The support for the LDP was 28 percent, followed by the DPP with 13 percent and the CDPJ with 5 percent.

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