Japan PM Defies Election Calls in Debate as Support Sags
- Parliament passes controversial political funding reform bill
- Kishida short of options as tax rebate fails to boost approval
The prime minister’s chances of leading his long-ruling LDP into that election look to be fading, with two polls over the weekend showing voter approval at its lowest since he took office in 2021.
Photographer: Richard A. Brooks/AFP/Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida defied calls for a general election in the first party leaders’ debate since he came to office, which came as his support hits record lows.
Kenta Izumi, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, urged Kishida to seek voters’ verdict on political funding reform measures that passed parliament on Wednesday, calling them a failure. Other opposition party leaders, including Nobuyuki Baba of the Japan Innovation Party, urged Kishida to step down.