According to a recent survey conducted by Asahi Shimbun, the approval rating for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration has seen a slight increase to 26 percent, following the ruling party's punitive actions related to a political fund scandal. Despite facing ongoing challenges, such as remaining under 30 percent approval for seven consecutive months, there has been a notable rise in support compared to previous months.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) penalized 39 lawmakers over the political fund scandal, which had a significant impact on both the party and the Cabinet. This move by the LDP was seen as a response to the scandal, which involved underreported revenues from fund-raising events and faced scrutiny in the Diet, Japan's legislative body. The recent survey also reflected an increase in the LDP's support rating to 26 percent, showcasing a somewhat improved public perception following the disciplinary actions taken.
While Prime Minister Kishida's handling of the political fund scandal saw a decline in disapproval from 81 percent to 78 percent, there still remains significant dissatisfaction among respondents. Additionally, a majority of survey participants expressed dissatisfaction with the LDP's response to the scandal, with 67 percent disapproving of the punishment given to the 39 lawmakers. The lack of disciplinary action against Kishida himself by the party led to further discontent, with 66 percent of respondents expressing dissatisfaction with this inaction. Despite these issues, there are varying opinions among the public regarding the transparency and resolution of the scandal, with 92 percent feeling that the truth has not been fully uncovered.