Japan’s ruling LDP leads in popularity ahead of general election: poll

TOKYO, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) remains the most popular choice among Japanese voters ahead of the general election on Oct. 27, results from a Kyodo News survey showed.
In a nationwide telephone survey conducted over the weekend, 26.4 percent of the respondents indicated they plan to vote for the LDP, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in the proportional representation segment. In comparison, 12.4 percent expressed support for the main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, according to Kyodo News.
The LDP’s coalition partner, Komeito, garnered 6.4 percent support, while 33.2 percent of those surveyed were undecided about their vote.
Despite facing criticism over slush funds scandals, the LDP is working to improve its image under Ishiba’s leadership. About 65.2 percent of respondents said they would take the slush funds scandal into “consideration” or “some consideration” when casting their vote, while 32.2 percent indicated it would not influence their decision.
The approval rating for Ishiba’s Cabinet stood at 42 percent, with a 36.7 percent disapproval rate. This represents a decline from a survey taken shortly after his inauguration earlier this month, which saw a 50.7 percent approval rate, but Kyodo News stated that no simple comparisons are possible due to the use of different polling methods.
In the single-seat districts, 46.6 percent of respondents were undecided, 28.5 percent planned to vote for an LDP candidate, and 22.9 percent intended to vote for opposition candidates.
When asked about their desired outcome from the election, 50.7 percent of respondents preferred an evenly split parliament between the ruling and opposition parties, 27.1 percent wanted the ruling party to maintain dominance, and 15.1 percent hoped for a reversal of power.
The key issues influencing voter decisions were the economy, employment, and inflation, cited by 57.0 percent of respondents. Pensions and social security followed at 38.4 percent, while political funding scandals were a concern for 14.4 percent.
The survey reached 503 household members and 761 mobile phone users, randomly selected from 617 households and 3,367 mobile numbers. ■