Kishida Approval Rises, but Public Remains Dissatisfied

Kishida Cabinet Approval Rating Rises After Punishments in Fund Scandal

The approval rating for the Kishida Cabinet has risen to 26%, while the disapproval rating has fallen to 62%, according to a weekend Asahi Shimbun survey. This increase comes after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) punished 39 lawmakers involved in a political fund scandal.

The approval rating for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration has remained below 30% for seven consecutive months since October, hitting a record-low 21% in February. However, the rate has since inched upward, reaching 22% in March.

The LDP's punishment of the 39 lawmakers on April 9 appears to have had a positive impact on public perception. The party's support rating also increased to 26% from 22% in March.

Despite the improvement, public dissatisfaction remains high. 78% of respondents disapproved of Kishida's handling of the scandal, while 67% were dissatisfied with the LDP's punishment of the lawmakers. Additionally, 66% were dissatisfied with the LDP's inaction against Kishida himself.

An overwhelming 92% of respondents believe the truth about the scandal has not been determined.

The survey also explored public opinion on the recent Japan-U.S. summit between Kishida and President Joe Biden. 44% of respondents approved of the summit, while 39% disapproved.

When asked who they thought would be the right person for prime minister, former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba topped the list with 19% of respondents preferring him. He was followed by former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi with 14%. The largest bloc of voters, 33%, chose "there is no such person on the list.