Abe’s popularity slides as Japan scandals take toll

Bloomberg

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s grip on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party appeared to be slipping as concerns about cronyism and the rushed passage of an “anti-conspiracy” law triggered his biggest drop in support since taking office in 2012.
After repeated denials, government documents emerged last week pointing to his office’s possible involvement in favors given to a close Abe associate who was opening a veterinary college in a special economic zone. His coalition also pushed through legislation that expands government surveillance powers, sparking criticism that his party cut short the latest parliamentary session to avoid further questions over the school scandal.
Support for Abe’s cabinet tumbled 12 percentage points to 49 percent in a poll conducted by the Yomiuri newspaper over the weekend — the lowest figure in a year. A raft of other surveys also found substantial slides, with a Mainichi newspaper survey showing his approval rate at 36 percent, lower than the disapproval level of 44%.
While the scandal has hurt Abe, he doesn’t appear to be at risk of resigning, and the main opposition Democratic Party has gained little from his decline in popularity. Still, it may prompt him to avoid calling an early election that had seemed likely only a few months ago.
“The Prime Minister’s Office is very nervous about this, and it will be a substantial blow, but there is no clear illegality” regarding the school, said Yu Uchiyama, a professor of political science at the University of Tokyo. “So Abe won’t resign over it. In terms of the electoral effect, he will want to wait until his reputation has recovered, so he is unlikely to call an election this year.”
Abe, 62, will hold a news conference at 6 p.m. Japan time Monday to mark the end of the parliament session. The prime minister’s biggest challenge may come from his own camp as rivals prepare for a party leadership election in autumn 2018. Even before the latest polls, rare criticism had begun to emerge from within his long-ruling LDP.