Fumio Kishida, Japan’s prime minister, speaks during a news conference at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo, Japan, November 2, 2023. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
TOKYO, Nov 16 (Reuters) – Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government slid to a record low, a poll conducted by Jiji news agency showed on Thursday, as Kishida’s tax cut plans to help cushion the blow of rising inflation left voters unimpressed.
In the research conducted from Nov. 10-13, 21.3% of those polled said they supported Kishida’s government, down from 26.3% in October, with 51% of those surveyed saying they do not see his tax reduction steps positively.
Kishida’s new economic stimulus measures include cutting annual income and other taxes by 40,000 yen ($264.25) per person and paying 70,000 yen to low-income households.
Jiji said resignations by senior officials of the Kishida administration could also have reduced the support rating.
Deputy finance minister Kenji Kanda stepped down on Monday over revelations that he had been delinquent on tax payments, becoming the third ruling-party lawmaker to quit the Kishida administration in less than a month.
($1 = 151.3700 yen)
Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka. Editing by Gerry Doyle
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