TOKYO: A majority of voters in Japan oppose Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio’s plans to raise taxes to increase defense spending, a JIJI Press survey showed.

The survey, conducted for four days through Monday, found that 50.8 pct of respondents oppose the tax increase, far higher than 24.7 pct in favor of the plan. It showed that 24.5 pct said they had no opinion.

Among supporters of Kishida’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, 44.4 pct of them are in favor of the tax increase plan, higher than 31.6 pct who oppose it.

The disapproval of the tax increase topped approval among supporters of other major political parties, including those of Komeito, the LDP’s junior coalition partner.

The approval rating stood at 29.3 pct among Komeito supporters, against 48.8 pct for disapproval. Among supporters of the leading opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the approval rating came to 10.0 pct, against 63.3 pct for disapproval.

Asked whether a snap general election should be called before the tax increase, 45.2 pct of respondents said they think so, while 23.1 pct said they do not.

The survey showed 20.8 pct said they support a proposed consumption tax increase to finance measures to raise the country’s declining birthrate, far lower than 56.7 pct who oppose the plan.

The interview-based survey covered 2,000 people aged 18 or over across the country. Valid responses came from 60.5 pct.

JIJI Press