Tokyo: Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government has fallen for the first time since she took office, according to new opinion polls released on Monday.
A survey published by national broadcaster NHK showed the approval rating for Takaichi’s administration at 67 percent, down from about 75 percent in December. Other media polls reported an even sharper drop, with support slipping to the low 60s and, in one survey, below 60 percent.
The fall in ratings comes as Japan prepares for a snap general election on February 8, which Takaichi called to seek a fresh mandate for her economic and security policies.
Many respondents said they were not convinced that the government’s planned stimulus package and tax cuts would help ease rising living costs. More than half of those surveyed said they did not expect the measures to improve household finances.
Concerns have also grown about how the government will fund its spending plans without adding to Japan’s already heavy public debt. Financial markets have reacted cautiously, with government bond yields rising in recent weeks as investors worry about higher borrowing.
Despite the decline, Takaichi remains more popular than her ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which continues to face weak support. Her party is also under pressure after losing its long time coalition partner, making the election outcome less predictable.
Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister in October, has argued that her policies are needed to revive growth, support families and strengthen national defence. She has framed the election as a choice between continuing reforms and political uncertainty.
With less than two weeks to go before voting day, the latest polls suggest the race is tightening and that voter concerns about the economy will play a decisive role in the outcome.