Election clouds loom over Japan’s ruling party as Ishiba’s approval ratings nosedive

Analysts warn that a poor electoral performance could render Ishiba a lame duck just weeks into his tenure, forcing the LDP to lean heavily on its junior coalition partner, Komeito, and emboldening rivals within his party.

A recent Jiji Press poll, published on Thursday, revealed that public support for the government has plummeted to 28 per cent, the lowest initial approval rating since 2000.

“I expect the LDP to lose its absolute majority but probably remain in power with Komeito, which will in return be able to promote some of its more family-friendly social policies,” said Stephen Nagy, a politics professor at Tokyo’s International Christian University.