Japan PM's approval rating remains near record low

The approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet remains near a record low.

It remains low in the wake of a fundraising scandal in his Liberal Democratic Party, climbing one percentage point to 27 per cent in the latest Nikkei-TV Tokyo survey, according to Nikkei Asia.

Support edged higher from the record low registered in December, according to the poll conducted February 2 through February 4. The disapproval rating declined two points to 66 per cent.

Four cabinet members were sacked last month for allegedly concealing fundraising income at events hosted by their faction. Some in the LDP have called for senior members of the Abe faction, including de facto leader Ryu Shionoya, to be held accountable. The group was previously led by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The LDP should take action against the Abe faction's leaders, such as removal from the party, according to 71 per cent of respondents, while 21 per cent said they should not be punished.

Kishida's decision to disband his own faction was supported by 59 per cent, a likely factor in keeping his approval rating from falling further.

Among those not backing the cabinet, 42 per cent were dissatisfied with management of government and party affairs, while 40 per cent cited a lack of leadership. Among those in support, 34 per cent pointed to the LDP-centered cabinet lineup.

On policy priorities for the prime minister, the overall economy was the top response at 39 per cent, followed by combating inflation at 36 per cent. Child care, education and birthrate efforts came in at 33 per cent.

Support for the LDP climbed one point to 31 per cent, with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan at eight per cent and the Japan Innovation Party, or Nippon Ishin no Kai, at seven per cent. Respondents not expressing a party preference held steady at 32 per cent.

Asked who should be the next LDP president -- the presumptive prime minister – 22 per cent of respondents said former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba. Shinjiro Koizumi, a former environment minister and a son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, was second at 15 per cent, with Digital Transformation Minister Taro Kono at 10 per cent. Kishida came in seventh at three per cent.

The telephone survey was conducted by Nikkei Research via random-digit dialing. Covering men and women 18 and older, it drew 969 responses, for a response rate of 42.6 per cent.