Approval for Ishiba Cabinet has risen to 27.3% in August, poll shows
The disapproval rate fell 5.4 points to 49.6%.
When asked whether Ishiba, also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, should resign to take responsibility for its major setback in last month's House of Councilors election, 39.9% of the respondents said they do not think so, slightly outpacing the 36.9% who said they do.
Among supporters of the LDP, 65.9% said they think Ishiba should not step down, against 24.6% who think he should quit. Some in the LDP called for Ishiba to resign after the party took a drubbing in the July 20 Upper House election.
Regarding reasons for supporting the Ishiba Cabinet, with multiple answers allowed, 13.6% of those backing it said there is no one other than Ishiba suitable to be prime minister, followed by 8.3% who said Ishiba is trustworthy and 4.3% who said it does not matter who is prime minister.
On the other hand, 26.9% of those not supporting the Cabinet said they have no hopes for it, 18.9% said they cannot trust Ishiba and 18.1% said that they have a bad impression of him.
Support for the LDP fell 0.7 point to 15.7%. Sanseito, which surged in the Upper House election, led opposition parties in support for the first time, at 7.6%.
The Democratic Party for the People and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan followed, with 6.8% and 5.5% respectively.
Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, came fifth, with 3.7%, followed by Nippon Ishin no Kai, with 2.4%, the Japanese Communist Party, with 1.8%, the Conservative Party of Japan, with 1.6%, Reiwa Shinsengumi, with 1.5%, Team Mirai, with 0.6% and the Social Democratic Party, with 0.5%.
The share of respondents who support no particular party came to 50.0%.
The interview survey, conducted over four days through Monday, covered 2,000 people age 18 or over in Japan. Valid responses were received from 56.9%.
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