Japan Suga Cabinet Approval Rating at 31% 'Endless Decline'... New Lowest Record

▲Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] As Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has expressed his intention to challenge for reappointment through the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election, the approval ratings for the Suga Cabinet among Japanese voters continue to plummet.

According to a telephone poll conducted by Asahi Shimbun from the 17th to 18th among 1,444 voters nationwide (valid respondents), the approval rating for the Suga Cabinet dropped by 3 percentage points within a month, falling to the low 30% range.

The percentage of respondents who disapprove rose sharply from 42% to 49%, an increase of 7 percentage points.

According to the Asahi survey results, the approval rating for the Suga Cabinet is at an all-time low since its launch in September last year.

This public sentiment is reflected not only in Asahi's poll but also in other survey results. According to a Kyodo News poll released the previous day, the approval rating for the Suga Cabinet fell by 8.1 percentage points compared to a month ago, dropping to 35.9%, the lowest since the cabinet's formation in September last year.

Earlier July surveys by Mainichi Shimbun (30%), NHK Broadcasting (33%), and Yomiuri Shimbun (37%) also recorded their respective lowest approval ratings.

In particular, the Jiji Press poll (29.3%) broke the 30% approval threshold for the first time, leading to assessments that the cabinet has effectively entered a dangerous phase of losing momentum in governance.

Japan's cabinet approval rating falling below 30% is the first time in four years since July 2017, when former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet was shaken by the Kake Gakuen scandal.

The main reasons for the Japanese public turning their backs on the Suga Cabinet are perceived indecisiveness in COVID-19 response and the decision to proceed with the Tokyo Olympics amid the infectious disease outbreak.

In the Asahi Shimbun survey, 65% evaluated the Suga Cabinet's COVID-19 response negatively, while only 25% said it was being handled properly.

Regarding the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, despite the opening being imminent, more people opposed (55%) than supported (33%) the event.

▲Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding Prime Minister Suga's emphasis on realizing a "safe and secure Games," 68% responded that it was "impossible."

Consequently, a red light has been lit on Suga's reappointment plans. Earlier, on the 17th, in an interview with Yomiuri TV, Prime Minister Suga expressed his intention to run for re-election as LDP president, stating, "When the time comes, I think it is natural," indicating his plan to challenge for reappointment through the LDP presidential election, whose term ends this September.

Prime Minister Suga plans to dissolve the House of Representatives and hold a general election during his current LDP presidential term to regain power, but public reaction remains cold.

In the July Jiji Press poll, 49.4% of respondents said it would be best if Suga served only until the end of his LDP presidential term this September and then stepped down, while 17.3% said they wanted him to resign immediately.

More than 66% of all respondents hope that someone else will be elected in the upcoming LDP presidential election and become prime minister.

On the other hand, only 18.0% said they want Suga to succeed in re-election and serve three more years, and just 5.6% said they want him to remain in office as long as possible.

In the Asahi Shimbun survey reported that day, only 14% of respondents said they want Prime Minister Suga to continue in power beyond his current LDP presidential term.

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