Support for Abe slides further, polls show

JAPAN: Support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet has fallen, with two major newspaper polls Tuesday showing approval ratings below 40 percent just weeks ahead of crucial elections.

A poll conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun said support for the cabinet was down 11 percentage points from last month, to 38 percent, with disapproval up 14 points at 51 percent.

The mass circulation daily carried out the survey on Saturday and Sunday across the nation, covering 3,000 eligible voters.

A poll of 1,760 voters conducted by the Asahi Shimbun showed the approval rating had fallen to 32 percent from 34 percent in early June, with disapproval rising to 51 percent from 48 percent. The liberal daily carried out the survey at the weekend.

The two polls showed the decline was linked to anger at the government’s admission that it cannot identify some 50 million payments to the pension system, a touchy issue in one of the most rapidly ageing countries.

Abe has also suffered from scandals in his government. His agriculture minister, who was due to be questioned over bid-rigging allegations, committed suicide last month.

Japan is due to hold elections next month for the upper house of parliament. A defeat for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party would not automatically cost Abe his job, as he enjoys an overwhelming majority in the lower house, but would likely lead to calls for him to quit.

Tokyo, Tuesday, AFP