Changing places

The Democratic Party for the People passes the Constitutional Democratic Party, while Ishiba continues to muddle along

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Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s government won a meaningful victory last week, convincing the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), Ishin no Kai, and Democratic Party for the People (DPFP) all to support the FY2024 supplemental budget with only modest concessions, enabling the budget to move through the Diet without having to extend the session.

This achievement, however, has done little to bolster Ishiba’s public support. After four new polls conducted over the weekend – by Kyodo News, the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun, and the Sankei Shimbun-Fuji – the moving average of his government’s support remains negative, with a net average approval rating at roughly -6.¹ This is despite his net approval gaining roughly four points in the Sankei poll, a gain offset by a nearly eight-point drop in net approval in Kyodo and a ten-point drop in net approval in Yomiuri.² In the latter two polls, the government’s approval went from slightly positive to markedly negative.