Support rate for Obuchi cabinet rises to 51.1 pc

Japan Policy & Politics, July 26, 1999

TOKYO, July 20 Kyodo

Public support for the cabinet of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi has risen to 51.1%, exceeding the 50% mark for the first time since its inauguration last July, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported Tuesday. The figure represents an increase of 1.3 percentage points from the major Japanese newspaper's last survey, conducted in June. The Yomiuri said the support rate rose because of a steady recovery in stock prices and smooth passage through the Diet of several key bills on government decentralization and reform of ministries and agencies. The poll was conducted on 3,000 people aged 20 or above nationwide through interviews Saturday and Sunday. Of these, 1,945, or 64.8%, responded. The proportion of those who do not support Obuchi's cabinet dropped to 32.0%, a record low for the current government, from 34.8% in the previous poll. Respondents who recognized certain achievements of the cabinet came to 28.9%, while 27.4% said the cabinet has "stability" and 24.0% said it was doing more than its predecessors. The key Nikkei index of Tokyo stocks topped 18,000 for the first time in 21 months in early July and closed above 18,500 Monday.