Prime minister Rozen Aso‘s cabinet approval rating has recently fallen to a new low of 19.7%.
The decline is thought to be connected at least in part to an ineffective 2 trillion yen cash back maneuver designed to revive Japan’s economy. The plan itself was considered unfavorably by over 75% of voters, though of course only 4% actually refused to accept the money.
The LDP itself suffered as well, with an approval rating drop down to 26.8%, being eclipsed by its greatest contender the DPJ for the first time since December of last year.
Aso’s dispatch of Japanese naval vessels on anti-piracy missions to Somalia, and his reforms of the notorious “amakudari” practice (where civil servants retire into jobs with companies connected with their ministries) did however find strong support amongst the electorate.
It should of course be noted that approval ratings to not always correlate well with actual election outcomes; additionally, Japanese politicians tend not to be populist icons as elsewhere, instead tending towards being dour technocr…
Via Yomiuri.
Given the prime minister’s carefully cultivated reputation as a manga fan, as well as the size of the associated market, perhaps it is time to put his plan of summoning more followers into action?
Well, everyone has different view on how a leader should be doing especially when the economy turn bad. But to get to such a low approval rating, either he has really failed in his job to save the economy or the japanese themselves might have better ways of dealing with the economy crisis. Sometimes, things are bad enough and it just keep getting worst.
It’s from Rozen Maiden. Hence.. Rozen Aso.
what is this picture from???….what anime?
I love that picture. Suigintou reaching for yakult >:)
Aso is one of the most offensive PM Japan has ever had, I wonder who on this earth he has not tried to offend yet… there is nothing “bold” about a stimulus, it’s a no-brainer, it’s as short-term as an election cycle… if it doesn’t work (usually) of course the decision maker should cop the blame, why should we forgive people who made decisions without thinking? Anyone who has paid attention to Japan’s economy since the late 80’s should know the deficiency of the no-brainer Keynesianism.
I guess it’s to be expected…
Bold moves usually ends up in less popularity.
This last economy package from Obama is a good example.
It’s risky, deals with lots of money, and even though lots of people admits that something had to be done to make the country recover from the crisis, people will be always against such bold moves.
Even if in the end it proves worth it.