Kishida Cabinet Approval Rating Rises After Punishments in Fund Scandal
The approval rating for the Kishida Cabinet has seen a slight increase following the ruling party's decision to punish lawmakers involved in a political fund scandal. The latest Asahi Shimbun survey conducted on April 20-21 showed an approval rating of 26%, up from 22% in March. This marks the first time the approval rating has risen above 25% since the scandal came to light in November.
The scandal, which involved underreported revenues from fundraising parties, had a significant impact on the Kishida administration, with the approval rating dropping to a record low of 21% in February. However, the recent punishments seem to have somewhat restored public confidence in the government's ability to address the issue.
The survey also revealed that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) saw its support rating increase to 26%, up from 22% in March. This suggests that the public may be willing to give the LDP another chance, despite the recent scandal.
However, the survey also highlighted continued dissatisfaction with the LDP's handling of the scandal. 67% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the punishment given to the 39 lawmakers, while 66% said they were dissatisfied with the lack of action taken against Kishida himself.
Despite the increase in approval ratings, it is clear that the political fund scandal has had a lasting impact on the Kishida administration. The public remains skeptical of the government's ability to fully address the issue, and the LDP will need to work hard to regain the trust of the people.