Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The approval rating for the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio has fallen for the sixth consecutive month, with an ANN public opinion poll reporting an approval rating of just 26.9 percent, the lowest since the government took office.

In the political world, it is generally said that when a Cabinet’s approval rating falls below 30 percent, it is in the “danger zone.”

In a bid to restore his reputation with the public, Kishida has announced that he will “return” the record-high tax revenue to the people and is considering a fixed 40,000-yen reduction in income taxes. As 56 percent of the respondents said they did not approve of the policy, there is a high possibility that even if it were implemented, it would not help boost the government’s popularity. 

Although it is well above the dismal 8.6 percent approval rating of the Mori Cabinet in 2001, Kishida’s constant decline in popularity could prove dangerous for the prime minister and many people say they are surprised that the Kishida Cabinet is still above the 20 percent level.

Commentators say he is doing nothing that ordinary citizens want but is generous to his relatives and cronies. 

At a plenary session of the House of Councilors at the end of November last year, Kishida was asked by a member of his own Liberal Democratic Party how he felt about the government’s plummeting approval rating.

His disingenuous answer was: “I’m not sure there are such harsh opinions about my administration. I believe that we must face this matter sincerely, humbly, and carefully. While thinking about what is best for the people, as Prime Minister I will continue to make decisions and implement them.”

A year has passed since then and the situation is that Kishida’s approval rating has fallen even further, and he shows no signs of knowing “what is best for the people.”