Abe plans drastic action
With popularity sinking, Japan’s leader seeks to bounce back after defeat
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to reshuffle his Cabinet in a bid to rebound from his party’s crushing defeat in Tokyo polls and overcome falling popularity.
TOKYO: With his government’s approval ratings sinking to their lowest level since he returned to power in 2012, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will reshuffle his Cabinet next month as he looks to rebound from his party’s recent crushing defeat in Tokyo municipal elections.
Results published yesterday from the liberal Asahi newspaper’s weekend poll showed support for Abe’s Cabinet at 33%, down seven points from a week earlier, while disapproval stood at 47%, up five points.
Polls by the conservative Yomiuri newspaper and NTV, both known as pro-Abe, showed similar results.
Experts say a slew of scandals, including a major one involving Abe, and the railroading of key legislation have hurt the prime minister’s popularity, leading to his Liberal Democratic Party’s heavy losses in the July 2 Tokyo assembly elections.
According to the Yomiuri poll, which was taken July 7-9, support for Abe’s government fell to 36%, down 13 points from mid-June, while disapproval rose to 52%, from 41%. NTV’s poll showed support fell to 32%.
“The size of the decline is shocking,” the Yomiuri reported, citing the 61% support that Abe’s government had just two months ago.
“While Prime Minister Abe repeats ‘ deep regret’, the public’s distrust is growing more than ever.”
Abe, travelling in Europe after the G-20 summit, told reporters on Sunday that he would reshuffle his Cabinet in early August.
The Cabinet is expected to replace some of the ministers criticised for problematic remarks and scandals.
In the absence of significant centre-left alternatives and strong rivals in his party, Abe’s tenure as prime minister is not under immediate threat. — AP