Abe Cabinet Approval Rate Down for 4th Month: Jiji Poll

June 15, 2018

Tokyo- Public support for the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fell 2.6 percentage points from a month before to 35.5 pct in June, down for the fourth consecutive month, a Jiji Press opinion poll showed Friday.

The disapproval rating rose 0.4 point to 43.4 pct, exceeding the support rate for the fourth straight month. The survey was conducted over four days through Monday.

According to the survey, 56.9 pct of respondents said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso should resign over a series of scandals, including the Ministry of Finance's tampering of documents related to a controversial discounted sale of state land to school operator Moritomo Gakuen, once linked to Abe's wife, Akie, while 29.1 pct said there is no need for him to step down. Aso has declined to resign over the scandals.

The latest support rate represents one of the lowest since the launch of Abe's second administration in 2012, following 29.9 pct marked in July last year.

Some officials of the Japanese government and ruling bloc had hoped for a possible recovery in public support after certain diplomatic developments, including the Japan-U.S. summit earlier in the month.

But the results suggest the public's strong distrust of the Abe administration over alleged favoritism for school operators Moritomo Gakuen and Kake Educational Institution, which is headed by a friend of the Japanese leader, pundits said.

On reasons for supporting the Abe cabinet, with multiple answers allowed, 18.3 pct said there is no other suitable person for prime minister, 10.2 pct cited Abe's leaderships skills and 8.2 pct said they trust him.

Among opponents of the cabinet, 31.1 pct said they cannot trust Abe, 18.3 pct said they do not expect anything from the government and 12.3 pct said they have a negative impression of the prime minister.

Support for Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party declined 1.0 point to 25.8 pct, while support for the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan climbed 0.2 point to 5.2 pct.

The support rate stood at 3.8 pct for Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, 2.0 pct for the Japanese Communist Party, 1.1 pct for Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), 0.6 pct for the Democratic Party for the People and 0.1 pct for the Party of Hope.

Respondents backing no political party accounted for 58.9 pct.

Asked whether they are for or against bills related to work style reform, which the Abe administration regards as the most important legislation in the ongoing regular parliamentary session, 29.5 pct voiced support for the bills, 38.7 pct expressed their opposition and 31.8 pct said they are not sure.

The survey was based on interviews with 2,000 people aged 18 or older across Japan. Valid responses were received from 63.3 pct. Jiji Press