Abe Cabinet Approval Ratings Remain 'Low'... 69% of Japanese Voters Oppose 4th Term

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The approval rating of the Shinzo Abe Cabinet in Japan continues to remain at a low level.

On the 23rd, a poll conducted by Asahi Shimbun targeting 2,065 Japanese voters showed that the Abe Cabinet's approval rating was 31%. This is a slight increase from the previous month's survey on the 23rd-24th, which recorded the lowest approval rating since Abe's return to power in December 2012 at 29%, but it still remains low. The percentage of respondents who said they do not support the Abe Cabinet was 52%, the same as last month.

When asked whether they would agree to revise the rule that limits the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president to three consecutive terms, allowing Prime Minister Abe to serve one more term as president, 69% responded 'oppose.' Supporters accounted for only 19%. In the February survey, opposition was 60% and support was 25%.

The increased resentment toward the Abe Cabinet this time appears to be influenced by the recent arrest of Abe's close aide, former Justice Minister Kawai Katsuyuki, and his wife, Upper House member Kawai Anri, on charges of election bribery. A significant 58% of respondents held Prime Minister Abe largely responsible for appointing Kawai Katsuyuki as a member of the House of Representatives.

Regarding the Abe Cabinet's response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), negative evaluations were at 51%, down from 57% in the previous poll, but still higher than positive evaluations at 38%. However, the percentage of respondents who felt anxious due to the spread of COVID-19 dropped significantly from 59% to 48%.

As for the next prime minister candidate, 31% of respondents chose Shigeru Ishiba, former LDP Secretary-General and Abe's rival, which is a 6 percentage point increase from the February survey. Fumio Kishida, the LDP Policy Research Council Chairman whom Abe sees as his successor, saw his support as the next prime minister candidate decrease from 6% to 4%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.