Takaichi Cabinet’s Approval Rate Falls to 54.3 Pct: Jiji Poll

Tokyo, June 18 (Jiji Press)–Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet fell by 5.1 percentage points from the previous month to 54.3 pct in June, hitting the lowest level since she took office last October, a monthly survey by Jiji Press showed Thursday. According to the June survey, conducted for four days through Monday, the proportion of respondents who did not support the cabinet rose by 2.5 points to 22.2 pct, hitting the highest level since Takaichi’s inauguration. The results apparently reflect media reports claiming that Takaichi’s campaign posted videos defaming her rivals on social media during recent elections, including last year’s Liberal Democratic Party presidential race. Of respondents supporting the Takaichi cabinet, 23.0 pct praised her leadership skills. On the other hand, 9.2 pct of those disapproving of the cabinet said that she is unreliable. The survey also asked whether the consumption tax rate on food items should be cut to zero pct or 1 pct, with 40.7 pct of respondents choosing zero pct and 29.4 pct pointing to 1 pct. Meanwhile, 22.1 pct said there is no need to cut the tax rate. Although Takaichi highlighted her aim of realizing a zero pct food tax rate during the House of Representatives election in February, a suprapartisan national council is currently looking at a proposal to lower the tax rate to 1 pct, instead of zero pct, because it would require less time to adjust cash register systems for a tax rate of 1 pct than for zero pct. Among respondents supporting the LDP, 33.5 pct backed a zero pct tax rate, and 36.9 pct favored 1 pct. Regarding the campaign video scandal, 40.4 pct said they were not convinced by Takaichi’s repeated denial of her involvement, far outnumbering 19.4 pct who were convinced. The remaining 40.2 pct said they do not know or cannot answer. Among Japanese political parties, the LDP maintained the top support rate, at 22.8 pct, but the figure fell by 5.0 points from the previous month. Sanseito came in second with 2.9 pct, down 0.8 point, followed by Komeito with 2.3 pct, up 0.3 point. The Democratic Party for the People, the Centrist Reform Alliance and the Japan Innovation Party each received 2.1 pct. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan was supported by 1.7 pct, the Japanese Communist Party by 1.3 pct, Team Mirai by 1.2 pct, the Conservative Party of Japan by 0.9 pct, and Reiwa Shinsengumi and the Social Democratic Party by 0.4 pct each. Respondents who did not support a particular political party accounted for 56.4 pct. The interview-based survey was conducted with 2,000 people aged 18 or over nationwide. Valid responses were received from 57.1 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]