Steep Down in Approval Rate

Having trouble in explaining distribution of gift certificates to young lawmakers in his party, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces public frustration on his management of political funds. The mid-March polls conducted by main newspapers showed significant decline in approval rate for Ishiba Cabinet. It is indicated that the management of money among the lawmakers is far different from the ordinary people who are suffering from price inflation. 

The poll conducted by Asahi Shimbun marked 14 percent of decline in approval rate for Ishiba Cabinet from the previous month, which stoppped at 26 percent. Disapproval rate was 59 percent, increasing by 15 percentage points. Although Ishiba explained that his activity violated no law, 75 percent of responders realized that distributing gift certificate was wrong, exceeding 23 percent of them who did not see any problem.

 

Yomiuri Shimbun reported 31 percent of approval rate with 8 points down, while the disapproval hiked 15 points to 58 percent. Approval rate went down to 23 percent in the poll by Mainichi Shimbun, with 7 points down, while the disapproval increased to 64 percent with growth of 10 points from February. Over the seventy percent recognized the distribution as wrong in those two polls, when less than twenty percent saw no problem.

 

Disappointment of the people to Ishiba administration (LDP) was obvious. Some LDP lawmakers said that it was usualfor former LDP prime ministers to distribute gift certificates like Ishiba did. In Asahi poll, 79 percent thought that the LDP would not be able to correct what they had been doing in dealing with political funds, as 15 percent expected the party to be able to change.

 

The poll also revealed that 60 percent thought Ishiba did not have to step down, while 32 percent required his resignation. It is unclear the reason why that much amount of people did not want it. One hint is that the biggest reason for the people to support Ishiba was because no other people was fitting for the replacement of Ishiba. There is no major movement among the LDP lawmakers to replace Ishiba without having another viable presidential candidate.

 

The response of policy handlings by Ishiba was somewhat moderate in the polls. According to Asahi and Mainichi, it was mostly even between positive and negative evaluation on Ishiba’s decision about postponing payment’s hike in high-cost medical expense.

 

The impact on election of the House of Councillors this summer is still not apparent so far. The support for the LDP has not changed so much, in spite of Ishiba’s scandal. No single opposition party showed any big change, too. However, it is possible for Ishiba to have a fatal damage, if he mishandles this critical moment of strong wind against him.

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