A public opinion poll revealed that the approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet has dropped to its lowest level since the administration took office. It is analyzed that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's 'slush fund scandal' influenced this decline.
According to a report by local public broadcaster NHK on the 8th, a telephone survey conducted from the 5th to the 7th targeting 1,204 people aged 18 and over showed that the Kishida cabinet's approval rating fell by 2 percentage points from the previous month to 23%. This figure matches the lowest level recorded in December last year, shortly after the Kishida administration began in October 2021, with the slush fund issue being a major factor. The percentage of respondents who do not support the Kishida cabinet rose by 1 percentage point to 58% compared to the previous month.
Critical public opinion was confirmed regarding the Liberal Democratic Party's disciplinary actions on April 4th, where only 39 out of 85 lawmakers involved in the slush fund scandal were sanctioned. In response, 63% said they 'cannot accept' this, more than double the 29% who said they 'can accept' it. Regarding the decision not to discipline Prime Minister Kishida, who is also the party president, 61% said it was 'unjustified,' significantly exceeding the 25% who said it was 'justified.'
Some factions within the Liberal Democratic Party have long been creating slush funds by hosting political fundraising events and returning money exceeding the quota of 'party tickets' sold to affiliated lawmakers.
When asked whether they believe Prime Minister Kishida's state visit to the United States?the first by a Japanese prime minister in nine years?and his summit meeting with President Joe Biden on the 10th would lead to strengthened Japan-US relations, 45% answered 'yes,' which is 5 percentage points higher than the 40% who answered 'no.'
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
![The Special Connection Between the Statue of Martyr Lee Jun in Jangchungdan Park and Mayor Oh Sehoon ③ [Current Affairs Show]](https://cwcontent.asiae.co.kr/asiaresize/319/2026012110001599450_1768957215.jpg)
