Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is facing big trouble as his approval ratings have dropped a lot. Recent polls show that many people are unhappy with him, especially after he gave out expensive gift vouchers to new lawmakers in his party. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been in charge of Japan for almost 70 years, has been hit hard by scandals, including some that led to his predecessor losing his job.
According to a recent poll by Asahi Shimbun, only 26% of voters support Ishiba now, down from 40% in February. Another poll by Yomiuri Shimbun shows support at 31%, down from 39%. This is the lowest rating for Ishiba since he became Prime Minister in October last year.
Ishiba, who is 68 years old, has been criticized for giving away vouchers worth 100,000 yen (about $670) to 15 new LDP lawmakers. He insists he did nothing wrong and that the vouchers were meant as a sign of appreciation, not a political bribe. During a recent discussion in parliament, he apologized for any confusion caused by the voucher issue.
The Asahi poll revealed that 75% of people think giving out the gift vouchers was a bad idea, while only 23% disagreed. However, 60% of respondents believe Ishiba should stay in his position, while 32% think he should step down. The Yomiuri poll had similar results, showing that 75% found the vouchers problematic.
As his support wanes, there are fears within the LDP that Ishiba might be pressured to resign before an important election in July for the upper house of parliament. Since Ishiba held a snap election last October, he has faced increasing criticism for corruption within his party and rising prices that upset voters. The recent election saw his coalition lose a majority in the lower house, the worst result in 15 years for the LDP. Now, they need help from opposition parties to pass new laws. A third poll by Mainichi Shimbun reported support for Ishiba at only 23%, down from 30% in February, with 78% considering the vouchers a problem.
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