Cabinet hits new poll low

The approval rating for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet is at 33.5 percent, down 2.3 percentage points from three weeks ago and the lowest showing since he took office in September, according to a Kyodo News survey released Sunday.

The disapproval rating rose 9 points to 57.7 percent, according to the survey conducted over the weekend to gauge voter attitude ahead of the July 29 Upper House election.

Support for the Democratic Party of Japan passed the Liberal Democratic Party by 0.6 point in individual districts and by 2.3 points in the proportional representation block.

The survey also showed that 48.3 percent of the respondents would like to see the ruling coalition of the LDP and New Komeito lose its majority in the Upper House, compared with 36.5 percent who want the coalition to retain control.

Regarding campaign issues they are keeping an eye on, 63.4 percent listed the pension problem, while 23.4 percent cited education. More than one topic could be selected.

Among other issues, 18 percent cited constitutional revision, the same figure for the financial gap between haves and have-nots, and 16.9 percent listed money scandals involving politicians.

The poll, to which 1,217 eligible voters responded nationwide, was the first in a series of five polls to be conducted before the election.

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