TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s (oic) popularity ratings remained high by historical standards despite a slight dip in some polls as the public weighed her handling of the impact of the war in Iran.
Polls conducted over the weekend showed that Takaichi had support from well over half of respondents, with broadcaster ANN showing 62% support and FNN marking 70%. The Mainichi, Asahi, and Yomiuri newspapers had approval ratings of 53%, 64%, and 66%, respectively.
Although Takaichi remains broadly popular, there have been some shifts in her support, with both the Mainichi and Yomiuri surveys showing 5-point declines in approval.
The Yomiuri poll noted a bigger drop in support among people aged 60 and over in comparison with younger generations.
Six months into her premiership, the war in Iran as well as frosty ties with China have threatened to overshadow Takaichi’s promises to boost the economy through investment in high-priority industries and support for households coping with inflation.
In recent weeks, Takaichi has focused efforts on stemming the economic impact from the effective closure of the Hormuz Strait. Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90% of its oil, much of which is shipped through the strait.
The government has so far released some its oil reserves, promised to keep gasoline prices at about ¥170 per litre ($1.10), and pledged to ease supply chain disruptions in petrochemicals.
Still, concerns remain high, with the ANN poll showing that 82% of respondents feel at least some impact from the Middle East conflict in their daily lives. Some 64% of respondents said the government should urge people to conserve energy, while 26% said it should not.
The Yomiuri survey showed that 70% of respondents supported Takaichi’s vision of responsible but proactive spending with an emphasis on growth, showing that many maintain high hopes that Takaichi will deliver on the economy.
Some appeared to be skeptical about how much she has delivered so far, however.
The Asahi newspaper poll showed that despite her high approval ratings, respondents were split on whether she had done enough to counter inflation, with 44% saying they didn’t approve of her measures and 40% saying they approved. - Bloomberg
