Takaichi Cabinet’s Approval Rate Almost Flat at 59.4 Pct: Jiji Poll

Tokyo, May 21 (Jiji Press)–Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet inched up 0.3 percentage point from the previous month to 59.4 pct in May, a monthly survey by Jiji Press showed Thursday. According to the May survey, conducted for four days through Monday, the proportion of respondents who did not support the cabinet edged up 0.5 point to 19.7 pct. Asked about reasons for supporting the Takaichi cabinet, with multiple answers allowed, 30.5 pct said the prime minister displays leadership, and 18.9 pct said that they trust Takaichi. Respondents who answered that her cabinet made a good impression, and there is no one else suitable to be prime minister, accounted for 16.3 pct each. These figures suggest that the high standard of the cabinet approval rate has been underpinned by a support for Takaichi herself, since she took office seven months ago as of Thursday. On the other hand, the most common reasons for disapproving of the Takaichi cabinet were that the prime minister cannot be trusted, given by 7.7 pct, that the cabinet is not promising, cited by 7.3 pct, and that her policies are bad, chosen by 6.9 pct. By political party, Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party remained the most popular party, backed by 27.8 pct of all respondents, up 2.1 points, while its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, remained sluggish at 2.6 pct, up 0.4 point. Among opposition parties, Sanseito returned to the top for the first time in six months with 3.7 pct, up 1.6 points, followed by the Democratic Party for the People, with 2.8 pct, down 0.1 point. The Centrist Reform Alliance saw its support rate decline 0.5 point to 2.0 pct. Komeito and the Japanese Communist Party were also backed by 2.0 pct, respectively. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan marked 1.9 pct, followed by Team Mirai with 1.4 pct, the Conservative Party of Japan with 0.6 pct, Reiwa Shinsengumi with 0.3 pct and the Social Democratic Party with 0.1 pct. Those who do not support any specific political parties totaled 50.4 pct. Meanwhile, asked about living conditions compared with a year earlier, 7.6 pct of respondents said they have become “very difficult” and 35.1 pct said they have become “somewhat difficult,” bringing the total to 42.7 pct, up 5.0 points from the previous month. On soaring prices, 94.7 pct of the respondents said they think prices will continue to rise. It is believed that price hikes because of the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and other factors are putting pressure on people’s lives. The interview survey, conducted over four days through Monday, covered 2,000 people aged 18 and older across the country. Valid responses came from 58.6 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]