Approval Rating of Kishida Cabinet Hits Lowest in 20 Years

Asahi Shimbun Poll 45%
LDP Emergency Signal for April 31 General Election

Fumio Kishida, Japan's new Prime Minister
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The approval rating of the Fumio Kishida Cabinet, which was launched on the 4th, was found to be only 45%. This is the lowest approval rating immediately after the inauguration of a new cabinet in the past 20 years. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is also facing a red alert ahead of the general election scheduled for the 31st.

According to a telephone poll conducted by Asahi Shimbun from the 4th to 5th targeting 972 voters nationwide aged 18 and over, 45% of respondents said they "support the Kishida Cabinet."

This is 3 percentage points lower than the previous lowest record of 48% for the Taro Aso Cabinet in 2008, making it the lowest since 2001 when approval ratings immediately after inauguration began to be surveyed in the current manner.

Those who answered "do not support" and "no response" were 20% and 35%, respectively. Asahi Shimbun explained, "More than one in three respondents have not decided their stance on the new cabinet," and "While the 'support' response is low, the 'do not support' response is not very high either."

Japanese citizens also expressed disappointment with the new cabinet in other polls. During the same period, a survey conducted by Mainichi Shimbun recorded a 49% approval rating, and Yomiuri Shimbun's survey recorded 56%. Compared to the 65% approval rating of the previous Yoshihide Suga Cabinet at its launch in 2008, this is a difference of up to 20 percentage points. Asahi Shimbun said, "The convention effect, where approval ratings rise immediately after the launch of a new cabinet, is far from being observed."

The low approval rating of the Kishida Cabinet appears to be influenced by its failure to purge the deep-rooted problems of the previous administration. In fact, key positions such as Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Minister of Defense were filled with close aides of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In Asahi Shimbun's survey, only 24% of respondents said they believed the LDP could be reborn by looking at the members of the Kishida Cabinet or party officials, while 54% said it could not be realized. Those who answered that "it is good for Prime Minister Kishida to follow the policies of the Abe or Suga administrations" were 23%, while 55% said "it is better not to follow."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kishida has announced that he will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 14th and hold the general election voting and counting on the 31st. He plans to ride the wave of expectations immediately after the cabinet's launch to gain an advantageous position in the election. However, with approval ratings coming out lower than expected, it has become difficult to guarantee the outcome.

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