LDP Supporters Favor 'Abe Rival' Ishiba... Top Choice for Next Prime Minister Preference

Former Secretary-General of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, Shigeru Ishiba
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] On the 20th, Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Shigeru Ishiba, former Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and considered a political rival of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, ranked first in preference for the next prime minister even among the ruling party's support base for the first time.

According to a public opinion poll conducted by Nihon Keizai and the private broadcaster TV Tokyo from the 17th to the 19th among 1,046 men and women nationwide aged 18 and over, 26% of all respondents chose former Secretary-General Ishiba as the "most suitable person for the next prime minister." The second place was Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (15%), followed by Prime Minister Abe (12%) and Defense Minister Taro Kono (9%).

Looking at the response rates of the LDP support base to the same question, former Secretary-General Ishiba led with 22%, surpassing Prime Minister Abe's 21%. Since the public opinion survey on the same question was conducted in May last year, this is the first time that Ishiba has overtaken Abe among LDP supporters as the most suitable candidate for the next prime minister.

Among only LDP supporters, Prime Minister Abe had been the top choice for the next prime minister with support in the high 20% to 30% range until the June survey. It is interpreted that Abe's approval rating significantly dropped due to a series of missteps in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former Secretary-General Ishiba was defeated by Prime Minister Abe in the LDP presidential elections in 2012 and 2018.

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