Support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet below 50pc
Backing for premier's cabinet drops to below 50pc amid growing questions over financial misuse by groups linked to trade minister
Support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet has fallen to 48.1 per cent, according to a new poll, as his government grapples with an unpopular plan to increase sales tax and a political funds scandal involving a top minister.
The poll was conducted Saturday and yesterday amid growing questions over the financial reports of political groups associated with Trade Minister Yuko Obuchi and the alleged misuse of money by her political funds control body. The scandal around Obuchi may have affected the rating, Kyodo said.
Abe tapped 40-year-old Obuchi less than two months ago to head the powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. She was one of five women Abe chose in a cabinet reshuffle in a bid to bolster his popularity.
After her appointment, Obuchi was given the tough task of trying to gain public trust for the government's unpopular policy of restarting nuclear reactors idled after the 2011 Fukushima atomic disaster.
But she is facing claims that, over the five years to 2012, her political funding body spent more than 10 million yen (HK$725,400) on things unconnected to politics, including cosmetics and accessories.
Yesterday, two government sources said Abe would accept Obuchi's resignation. The departure would be the first cabinet resignation for Abe, who took office in December 2012.