Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–The public approval rate for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet fell 1.7 percentage points from the previous month to 42.4 pct in October, hitting the lowest level since she took office a year ago, a Jiji Press survey showed Thursday. The rate fell for the fifth straight month. According to the survey, conducted for four days through Monday, the proportion of respondents who did not support the cabinet stood at 29.7 pct, up 0.4 point. The results apparently reflected critical views of the public about Takaichi’s decision to keep House of Representatives member Kazuo Yana in his cabinet post for more than two weeks despite mounting allegations against him. He ended up resigning as agriculture minister Wednesday in a move widely seen as an effective dismissal. Yana had been at the center of criticism since Sept. 30, when reports about his problematic behavior began to appear, including remarks about road-related budget cuts for some municipalities and free shuttle bus transportation he provided to supporters during his Lower House election campaigning possibly in violation of the public offices election law. Asked whether Takaichi’s initial decision to retain Yana was appropriate, 49.6 pct saw it problematic. Combined with the 28.4 pct who said it was somewhat problematic, nearly 80 pct viewed the decision negatively. Only 13.2 pct expressed support. Meanwhile, 28.0 pct of respondents approved last month’s cabinet reshuffle and executive appointments within Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party. In contrast, 50.6 pct answered the opposite. Regarding the appointments of Yana and education minister Yoshihiro Seki, both of whom had been linked to the LDP’s slush funds scandal, 65.9 pct said the appointments were problematic, including those who viewed them as somewhat problematic. The ruling LDP remained the most popular party at 22.1 pct, down 1.1 points from the previous month. Komeito ranked second at 3.4 pct, up 0.2 point, remaining highest among opposition parties. It was followed by Sanseito at 2.7 pct, the Democratic Party for the People at 1.9 pct and Team Mirai at 1.7 pct. Support for the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP’s partner in the ruling bloc, stood at 1.6 pct, followed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan at 1.5 pct, the Japanese Communist Party at 1.4 pct, the Conservative Party of Japan at 0.4 pct. The Social Democratic Party followed at 0.3 pct, and Inochi no To at 0.2 pct. The Democratic Reform Party and the Centrist Reform Alliance both logged 0.1 pct. Respondents who did not support specific political parties accounted for 59.7 pct. The interview survey covered 2,000 people aged 18 or older across the country. Valid responses were given by 58.4 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
