TOKYO: Support for Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga slid further below 30% in August in a survey by Jiji news agency, a blow for him as members of his party start to question if he should lead them into a general election that must be held by October.
The survey underscores how the Tokyo Olympics have failed to offset the disapproval over Suga's handling of the pandemic, with Japan battling a fifth wave of infections, in line with other polls that show his ratings are at record lows
The Jiji poll showed on Friday that support for Suga's administration hit 29.0% in August, down 0.3 point from July, below the boom-or-bust 30% level for a second straight month.
"The administration probably hoped to prop up ratings and wipe out public fears over the pandemic with the Olympics," said Nozomu Yamazaki, a professor at Japan's Komazawa University.
"But infections spiked during the Games, the medical system is on the verge of collapse and vaccines are still in short supply. It's not surprising approval ratings are low," he said.
Japan lags other advanced nations in vaccination rollouts, while a spike in Delta variant cases has overwhelmed an already stretched medical capacity, forcing the government to ask patients with milder symptoms to isolate at home.
Such handling of the pandemic has hurt ratings ahead of a general election that must be held by Oct. 21.
Suga's plan is to dissolve parliament and call a snap election after the Paralympic Games end in early September, lawmakers and government officials have said.
This could allow Suga to continue as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) when his current term as its head expires on Sept. 30, without holding a leadership race.
But the plan has been challenged by some LDP lawmakers who, worried about Suga's low ratings, are calling for a party leadership race to be held before the general election.
"We can't win the election with Mr. Suga at the helm," one junior LDP lawmaker told Reuters, a view echoed by another ruling party heavyweight. Both spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
SUGA'S POTENTIAL OPPONENTS
Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, former general affairs minister Sanae Takaichi and ruling party executive Seiko Noda have expressed an interest in running for the top LDP role.
Political experts say the ruling coalition may lose some seats in the election but stay in power regardless of who heads the party, helped by a fragmented and weak opposition.
But the uncertainty could hobble progress in containing the pandemic. Even if Suga survives, a weak election result could overshadow his growth strategy and deprive him of the mandate to push through reforms, analysts say.
The election will also heighten political calls for another big spending package to appease voters, even as other nations wean their economies off crisis-mode stimulus, they say.
"Another fat budget could be positive for Japanese stocks in the short run. But pork-barrel spending ... won't brighten Japan's long-term economic outlook," said Toru Suehiro, a senior economist at Daiwa Securities.
Reuters
Fri Aug 13 2021
Suga's plan is to dissolve parliament and call a snap election after the Paralympic Games end in early September, lawmakers and government officials have said. - AP
Pulau Pinang, kerajaan pusat bekerjasama tarik pelaburan semikonduktor
Kerajaan Pulau Pinang akan bekerjasama dengan Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk meneruskan usaha menarik pelaburan dalam sektor semikonduktor, termasuk segmen reka bentuk litar bersepadu (IC) di negeri itu.
Rakyat Malaysia di Jordan jadi duta produk PMKS negara
Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi Datuk Ewon Benedick menyarankan rakyat Malaysia yang menetap di Jordan supaya memainkan peranan sebagai “duta” untuk mempromosikan produk perusahaan mikro kecil dan sederhana (PMKS) SERTA koperasi negara.
Mohamed Khaled tiba di Indonesia, dijadual bertemu Prabowo
Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin tiba di Jakarta hari ini untuk lawatan kerja rasmi sulung beliau ke Indonesia sejak memegang jawatan itu.
SPRM mohon maklumat dari Jerman
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) memohon maklumat terkini daripada pihak berkuasa Jerman mengenai dana bon 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) yang dipercayai digunakan untuk membeli kereta mewah di negara itu pada 26 Okt 2022.
SPRM siasat pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air
Seorang pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air disiasat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) kerana disyaki melantik beberapa syarikat yang mempunyai kepentingan dengannya membabitkan beberapa projek pembekalan melibatkan peruntukan kira-kira RM300,000.
Kembangkan kandungan tempatan melalui AI
Menurut Setiausaha Agung Organisasi Kerjasama Digital (DCO) Deemah Al Yahya, terdapat 2.7 peratus daripada penduduk dunia tidak berhubung malah tidak mempunyai sambungan asas internet. Beliau turut berkata infrastruktur pengkomputeran setiap negara perlu mempunyai kemampuan untuk mengembangkan kandungan tempatan khususnya yang melibatkan penggunaan AI.
AI tidak dapat ganti guru
Menteri Pendidikan Rwanda, Gaspard Twagirayezu berkata kepesatan teknologi AI dalam pendidikan tidak dapat menggantikan guru malah membantu guru dalam menyediakan bahan pengajaran yang bermanfaat kepada pelajar.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Ahad, 28 April 2024.
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Dunia perlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi ke Orde Baharu - Menteri Luar Arab Saudi
Menteri Luar Negeri Arab Saudi, Putera Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud berkata dunia memerlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi daripada Orde Dunia Lama kepada Orde Baharu. Jelasnya, persaingan ini akan memberi manfaat dalam bentuk kos pengeluaran lebih rendah, perkembangan inovasi dan pelaburan lebih baik. #MesyuaratKhasWEF #WEF
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Dunia saling tidak percaya akibat kebergantungan dipersenjatakan - Naib Presiden Suruhanjaya Eropah
Naib Presiden Suruhanjaya Eropah, Josep Borrell Fontelles berkata fenomena hilang kepercayaan yang melanda komuniti antarabangsa ketika ini adalah akibat kebergantungan yang dipersenjatakan oleh beberapa pihak. Jelasnya, situasi ini boleh membawa kepada pengasingan negara-negara tertentu dari pentas global, seterusnya menghambat pelaksanaan agenda antarabangsa. #MesyuaratKhasWEF #WEF
Syakilla 'berguru' di Amsterdam
Selepas menampilkan prestasi mengecewakan pada Sukan Asia 2018, jaguh karate negara, Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan, bakal 'berguru' di Amsterdam selama tiga bulan.