Takaichi’s Surge in Poll

The first poll on Sanae Takaichi administration marked high approval rate among past prime ministers. Although Takaichi failed in maintaining the leading between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, the respondents positively accepted the new cooperative framework by the LDP and Japan Innovation Party (JIP). However, people are still skeptical about Takaichi’s handlings of political reform over political funds or reduction of Diet seats.

In the poll of Yomiuri Shimbun right after establishment of Takaichi Cabinet, the approval rate of the cabinet was 71 percent with 18 percent of disapproval. Asahi Shimbun reported its poll with 68 percent of approval for Takaichi Cabinet and disapproval at 19 percent a week after new administration started. The poll of Mainichi Shimbun showed mostly the same result with 65 percent of approval and 22 percent of disapproval.

 

Those polls indicated that Takaichi Cabinet at its initial moment enjoys relatively high popularity among previous cabinets. Approval rate of Takaichi Cabinet was ranked at 7th in Mainichi, 5th in Yomiuri and 3rd in Asahi. The cabinets that marked greater percentage than that of Takaichi in any of three polls were Yukio Hatoyama in 2009 and Jun-ichiro Koizumi in 2001.

 

Although Takaichi experienced difficult situation to establish her cabinet, the respondents of the polls mostly approved new framework of leading coalition by the LDP and JIP. 59 percent thought that departure of Komeito and coalition between LDP and JIP was good. In Mainichi poll, 61 percent thought Komeito’s departure was good. 77 percent in Yomiuri poll also evaluated it good.

 

It is anticipated that Takaichi’s choice of JIP for LDP’s partner may lead to further right-leaning government. However, 57 percent in Asahi poll regard Takaichi’s conservative position as preferrable, leaving 25 percent of those in negative assessment behind.

 

The main reason for supporting Takaichi was not necessarily because she is a woman. The first reason for approval to Takaichi was expectation to policies she upheld in Asahi poll, and to leadership in Mainichi poll. On the other hand, the top reason of disapproving Takaichi Cabinet was insufficiency of her policies in Mainichi poll, followed by anti-LDP sentiment.

 

In Mainichi poll, however, 60 percent answered that kickback fund scandal in the LDP was still a big problem, as 22 percent thought it would not. 53 percent expected that reduction of Diet seat would be an urgent issue in Yomiuri poll.

 

The establishment of LDP-JIP coalition boosted support for those two parties. Approval for LDP and JIP showed significant rise in any of those three polls. Their surge caused decline of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) and Sanseito, which are relatively conservative among opposition parties.

 

Other opposition parties remain still. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) kept leader’s position in the opposition bloc. Former LDP’s coalition partner, Komeito, saw no big change in support for them before and after leaving the coalition.

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