Polls Show Division on Important Issues

The polls conducted by news organizations showed no big change in approval rate for Sanae Takaichi Cabinet. However, they indicated sharp division in some issues which needed overwhelming approval from the people. Although Prime Minister Takaichi is ambitious to conclude “divisive issues,” the polls revealed Takaichi’s weakness in making a broad consensus in important issues.

On maintaining members of Imperial Family, the parties in the Diet have been discussing two options. One is keeping female members in the family after marriage and another is to adopt male members in male line of former Imperial Families. The Speakers of both Houses recommended both options as “unanimous opinion of the legislative branch” to Takaichi government. The Diet has been demanded to conclude a unanimous opinion. Emperor Naruhito made an unusual comment that he hopes the measures to achieve understandings of the people.

 

The poll of Mainichi Shimbun showed 60 percent of approval for female members to remain, while 12 percent disapproved. The poll revealed that 73 percent of respondents support female emperor, while only 6 percent opposed. Other polls also showed strong support for female member’s role in Imperial Family.

 

On adoption of male members of former Imperial Families, Mainichi’s poll identified that 32 percent opposed it, as 28 percent approved. On giving right of succeeding to the throne to the son of adopted male members, an idea which the Speaker of House of Representative, Eisuke Mori, once referred to and later backed off, 34 percent opposed and 23 percent supported. Compared to remaining of female members in the family, public opinion is sharply divided on adoption, far from having an overwhelming consensus.

 

Takaichi also hopes to have a broad consensus on consumption tax cut. She launched a national council beyond party lines to discuss the direction of the policy. But the discussion was led by Takaichi government, rather than wrapping up a consensus of all parties. The chairman of the council, who is from the LDP, presented his proposal that the consumption tax rate for foods will be reduced from 8 percent to 1 percent and disseminating benefit equivalent to the remaining 1 percent to low-income families.

 

The poll of Asahi Shimbun found 51 percent of respondents supported the idea of 1 percent consumption tax on foods, as 41 percent did not. Yomiuri Shimbun showed the same trend with 52 percent of approval and 38 percent of disapproval. But Mainichi showed opposite result with 38 percent and 40 percent. In the poll of Asahi, 57 percent answered that they were worried about negative impact on fiscal balance by the consumption tax cut.

 

It is true that Takaichi has still been maintaining relatively high approval rate around sixty percent. However, the result of polls indicates that the support for Takaichi may decline, if she fails in having a consensus on divisive issues, which the people are closely watching.

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