Japan PM Abe's support rebounds despite former justice minister's arrest
21 June, 2020
Public support for Japanese Primary Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet rose by nine percentage points to 36 % despite the latest arrest of his past justice minister about suspicion of vote-ordering, a poll by the Mainichi Shimbun daily showed in Sunday (Jun 21).
The approval rating had fallen to 27 per cent in the paper's previous survey conducted immediately after a senior Tokyo prosecutor who was seen near the premier resigned in later May for gambling during Japan's coronavirus state of emergency.
A good drop in voter support below 30 % is often regarded as a danger sign.
The Mainichi report on its most recent survey will not give specific known reasons for the rebound in support, but 55 % of those polled welcomed the government's decision on Thursday to lift curbs on domestic travels.
That compares with 32 % of these surveyed who said the limitations must have remained in place.
Prosecutors on Thursday arrested past justice minister Katsuyuki Kawai, a one-time foreign policy adviser near to Abe, and Kawai's lawmaker wife, Anri, on suspicion of vote-buying in a 2019 upper-house election.
Although support for Abe's government rebounded, 59 per cent of those surveyed believe Abe has heavy responsibility for the problem.
Abe has apologised to the general public more than the scandal, saying he felt his responsibility strongly for his appointment of Kawai to the content.
The Mainichi survey also showed that 59 per cent of those polled usually do not consider the Tokyo Olympics, at first planned for July and August this year but postponed by twelve months as a result of coronavirus pandemic, can be held next year. Only 21 per cent believe the event could be held in 2021.
Japan has not suffered the explosive surge of coronavirus infections observed in various other countries, with about 18,000 confirmed cases and 954 deaths, according to open public broadcaster NHK.
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