Japanese Voters Divided on Kishida's Future, No Clear Successor Emerges
A recent poll reveals a complex political landscape in Japan, with a majority of voters disapproving of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's continued leadership but lacking a clear consensus on his replacement.
The Asahi Shimbun survey, conducted on July 20-21, found that 74% of respondents oppose Kishida remaining in office after the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election in September. Only 18% favor his continuation as Prime Minister.
When asked about their preferred successor, voters were split between former LDP secretary-general Shigeru Ishiba and former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Both received support from around 20% of respondents.
The survey also indicated a slight improvement in Kishida's Cabinet approval rating, rising to 26% from 22% in June. However, the disapproval rating remains high at 61%.
Interestingly, even among LDP supporters, a majority (57%) oppose Kishida's re-election as party president and Prime Minister. This sentiment echoes the 2021 pre-election survey, where 60% of respondents opposed then-Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's continuation.
The survey also explored public preferences for future government leadership. While 48% favor a non-LDP administration, 38% prefer an LDP-led government. This represents a narrowing gap compared to the May survey, where 54% favored a non-LDP government.
The LDP's support rating has also seen a slight increase, reaching 24% from 19% in June. However, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan saw its support rating drop to 5% from 8% in June.
With the LDP leadership election approaching, the political landscape in Japan remains uncertain. While voters overwhelmingly disapprove of Kishida's continued leadership, they are divided on his successor and the future direction of the government.