With his government's approval ratings sinking to their lowest level since he returned to power in 2012, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will reshuffle his Cabinet next month as he looks to rebound from his party's recent crushing defeat in Tokyo municipal elections.
Results published from the liberal Asahi newspaper's weekend poll showed support for Abe's Cabinet at 33 per cent, down seven points from a week earlier, while disapproval stood at 47 per cent, up five points. Polls by the conservative Yomiuri newspaper and NTV, both known as pro-Abe, showed similar results.
Experts say a slew of scandals, including a major one involving Abe, and the railroading of key legislation have hurt the prime minister's popularity, leading to his Liberal Democratic Party's heavy losses in the July 2 Tokyo assembly elections.
According to the Yomiuri poll, which was taken July 7-9, support for Abe's government fell to 36 per cent, down 13 points from mid-June, while disapproval rose to 52 per cent, from 41 per cent. NTV's poll showed support fell to 32 per cent.
"The size of the decline is shocking," the Yomiuri said, citing the 61 per cent support that Abe's government had just two months ago. "While Prime Minister Abe repeats 'deep regret,' the public's distrust is growing more than ever."
