Arya News - Conducted nationwide from Friday to Sunday, the poll also found that 32% of respondents disapproved of the Cabinet.
TOKYO – The approval rating for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet fell to 56% in the latest Yomiuri Shimbun survey, edging down one point from the previous poll for the administration’s worst performance since it was launched in October.
Conducted nationwide from Friday to Sunday, the poll also found that 32% of respondents disapproved of the Cabinet.
In the previous survey from July 24-26, approval stood at 57% and disapproval at 34%.
Among those age 60 and older, approval in the recent survey fell to 47%, down from 52%, marking the first time approval has fallen below 50% for the age group. Disapproval was at 40%, unchanged from the previous survey.
When asked about the government’s plan to temporarily lower the consumption tax on food items from 8% to 1% for two years starting next April, 54% said they supported the move while 40% were against it. When asked whether they thought the rate could be returned to 8% after two years, 41% said they thought it could be raised back, less than the 50% who said they thought that would not happen.
By law, consumption tax revenue must be used to fund social security. Some 61% were concerned that lowering the tax would make it impossible to maintain the social security system, while 34% were not concerned.
Asked about the introduction of a new benefits system linked to income and targeting low- and middle-income workers, 58% said they were supportive, while 26% were against it.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents approved of the prime minister’s policy of “responsible and proactive public finances,” which prioritizes economic growth. Only 27% approved of the government’s response to inflation, while 64% disapproved. In the previous survey, 21% approved and 71% disapproved.
This month, the government revised the high-cost medical expense benefit system, which limits patients’ financial burden when out-of-pocket costs become too high. The revisions include raising the upper limit on out-of-pocket expenses based on annual income. Support for the revisions stood at 49%, while 44% were against the changes.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents approved of the government’s response to the Kumamoto earthquake, more than the 29% who disapproved.
The Liberal Democratic Party had the strongest support of any political party at 34%, up from 31%. Sanseito was second at 4%, down from 5%. Forty-one percent of voters had no party affiliation, up from 39%.
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