Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s approval rating jumped in two public opinion surveys, in the latest sign his premiership had escaped danger after a series of domestic scandals earlier this year.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s approval rating jumped in two public opinion surveys, in the latest sign his premiership had escaped danger after a series of domestic scandals earlier this year.
Approval for Abe’s government climbed 10 percentage points to 52 percent, according to a poll conducted by the Nikkei newspaper and TV Tokyo. Disapproval dropped to 42 percent in the poll conducted between Friday and Sunday, compared with 53 percent in May. Separately, a poll by the Mainichi newspaper found the cabinet’s support climbed 5 percentage points to 36 percent.
The polls suggest that Abe has survived another political close-call after allegations of cronyism and abuse of power drove down his popularity just months ahead of a crucial party election. The September vote to decide leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will probably determine whether Abe can stay on to become Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, since a fragmented opposition poses little electoral threat.
