TOKYO (JAPAN) – Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet rose by nine per cent to 36% in spite of the recent arrest of his former justice minister who is suspected of vote-buying, a poll by the Mainichi Shimbun daily showed on Sunday.
The rating had dipped to 27% in the paper’s previous survey conducted soon after a senior Tokyo prosecutor close to the premier resigned in late May for gambling during the nation’s coronavirus state of emergency.
A drop in voter support below 30% is often seen as a danger sign.
The Mainichi report on its survey does not reveal specific reasons for the rebound in support, but said 55% of those polled hailed the government’s decision on Thursday to lift domestic travel restrictions.
That compares with 32% of those surveyed who said the restrictions should have remained in place.
Former justice minister Katsuyuki Kawai, a one-time foreign policy adviser close to Abe, and Kawai’s lawmaker wife, Anri, were arrested on suspicion of vote-buying in a 2019 upper-house election.
Despite support for the government, 59% survey participants believe Abe has heavy responsibility for the matter.
Abe apologised to the public over the scandal, saying he felt his responsibility strongly for his appointment of Kawai to the post.
The Mainichi survey also showed that 59% do not believe the Tokyo Olympics postponed by one year due to the coronavirus pandemic, can be held next year. Only 21% believe the event can be held in 2021.
Japan has not suffered the surge of coronavirus infections seen in some other countries, with about 18,000 confirmed cases and 954 deaths, according to public broadcaster NHK.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field