From Poll 2002

Here are some excerpts from opinion poll by major journalism.

Non-supporters of the Cabinet exceeded supporters

[chart: approval:40%; non-approval:44% in Apr. 2002]
Finally, the approval rate of the Koizumi Cabinet conceded that of disapproval, according to the poll. The Asahi Shimbun conducted telephone survey on March 25 and 26, with 2,080 valid responses out of 3,678 randomly selected voters. The survey also found that only 25% said they supported the LDP, while it was 41% at its peak in last September. More than 80% said the scandal involving Kato would have some influence on the Koizumi Cabinet. For the secretary trouble of SDP's Kiyomi Tsujimoto, Only 10% thought it was her personal problem, but 78% answered it should be treated as the issue of whole political world.

(April 3, 2002, The Asahi Shimbun)

Support for Koizumi Cabinet falls again

The backing rate dropping to 44% as the Muneo Suzuki controversy takes its toll. The Asahi Shimbun conducted telephone poll on March 1 and 2, with 2,096 valid responses out of 3,579 randomly selected voters. The drop comes in the wake of a sharp decline to 49% last month following the dismissal of Makiko Tanaka as foreign minister. Support for LDP even went down to 28%, from 34% in last survey. 77% of the respondents said they thought the anti-deflationary measures announced by the Cabinet would not help the economy recover, while only 15% said they expected the measures to work.

(March 3, 2002, The Asahi Shimbun)

Cabinet approval dives to 46.9%

[chart: approval:yes=46.9% vs no=41.6%; Understand Tanaka's dismiss: yes=30% vs no=66%; Tanaka was good Foreign Minister: yes=38% vs no=41%; can realize the reform: yes=24% vs no=69%]
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun's flash telephone poll (on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1), the approval rating of the Koizumi Cabinet plummeted by 30 points to 46.9 percent from previous surveys, apparently reflecting discontent over the recent sacking of Makiko Tanaka as foreign minister. Until recently, it has enjoyed high approval ratings, ranging from the upper 70 percent range to the mid-80 percent range since the Cabinet was inaugurated last April. The sharp drop in the public approval comes as a heavy blow to the Koizumi Cabinet, which has relied on its considerable popularity for its political clout.

(February 2, 2002, The Yomiuri Shimbun)