Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s approval rating dropped to 67% in a recent poll, down from 75% in December, according to a survey conducted by the Nikkei newspaper and TV Tokyo over three days through Sunday. This marks the first time her approval rating has fallen below 70% since she took office in October.
The percentage of respondents who said they do not support Takaichi’s administration rose to 26%, up from 18% in the December poll.
Among the public, 56% expressed doubt that her stimulus package, aimed at offsetting rising living costs, would be effective, compared with 38% who believed it would have a positive impact.
Takaichi recently called a snap general election on February 8 to seek a mandate for her expansionary fiscal policies. The announcement triggered a spike in Japanese bond yields, as markets expressed concern that the government may need to issue additional debt.
