Push For Terada Resignation Gains Momentum, Support For Cabinet Little Changed In Jiji Poll

The choir of voices within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party calling for the resignation of Internal Affairs Minister Minoru Terada is growing, Jiji reports citing sources. Some senior party members are pushing for the necessary decisions to be made after Prime Minister Kishida returns from his Southeast Asia trip this weekend.

• Terada is facing criticism over alleged violations of Japan's political funding laws, which presents a dilemma to Prime Minister Kishida. The third ministerial replacement in less then a month would amount to a rate of turnover that would demonstrate the instability of the administration. On the other hand, the ruling party fears that allowing Terada to keep his post might delay the adoption of the supplementary budget, with the opposition planning to use the upcoming parliamentary debates to voice accusations against the Internal Affairs Minister.
• "We should replace Cabinet ministers who have problems," one LDP official told Jiji, while a former Cabinet minister noted that "it would be better for Mr Terada to let him step down." Meanwhile, a senior lawmaker from the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party outlined plans to confront the government over Terada, "including in the Budget Committee."
• While the government's approval rating edged 0.3pp higher to 27.7% in the latest Jiji opinion poll, the rate of disapproval rose 0.5pp to 43.5%. The slower rate of decline in the net assessment of the government is not necessarily an outright positive surprise. It comes after a steep fall, which means most volatile voters may have already withdrawn support for the Kishida administration.
• On the other hand, opposition parties are clearly struggling to capitalise on the crisis within the LDP, with the second-best CDP backed by just 4.8% of respondents. The LDP reduced its advantage, but remains comfortably in the lead with 22.8%. Nearly 60% of people do not support any party, which adds uncertainty to Japan's political landscape.