Poll Shows Uneasiness on Election Result

One truth of the election of House of Representatives last Sunday is that Liberal Democratic Party obtained the seats more than its actual power. One post-election poll showed a fact that over one half of the people were frustrated with the result. While LDP occupies over 60% of all the seats, the supporting rate of Shinzo Abe administration is as low as 42%. With fundamental concern on the twisted result, the leaders of LDP, including Abe, could not be delighted with their sweeping victory.

In the poll by Asahi Shimbun operated on Monday and Tuesday, 51% of the responders answered that the leading coalition of LDP and Komeito gained the seat “too much,” apparently overtaking 32% of those who thought it “reasonable.” Even about 30% of supporters of the leading parties thought it excessive. While 56% of those in the age between 18 and 29 realized the result as reasonable, more responders in the rest of the ages thought it as too much than who felt it reasonable.

How do they think the reason why LDP has made that victory? 26% approved that it was because the people positively evaluated Abe’s policies. 65% answered “I don’t think so.” Even 48% of LDP supporters did not think so, exceeding 45% of who thought it acceptable. 54% of the people expressed their concern on the policy Abe was promoting, overtaking 29% who embraced greater hope on it than concern. While 58% of LDP supporters held hope for policy of Abe, 69% of independent voters had concern on it. 37% expected Abe to stay as Premier, while 47% did not think so.

Those concerns were stemming from hawkish attitude of Abe. 45% opposed Abe’s proposal to include Self-defense Force in Constitution of Japan, exceeding 36% of the approvers. It was a striking result that young agers between 18 and 29 were positive on the constitutional description about SDF. 49% in those ages approved it, making clear contrast from those in 60s 54% of whom opposed. 45% of male supported it, while only 28% of female do that.

Supporting rate for each party showed significant change of political landscape. Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan gained 17% of support, symbolizing its status of the biggest opposite party. Party of Hope led by populist governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, sank to 3% of support, lagging behind of Komeito with 4%. The people who expected to political role of CDPJ rose up to 49%, making a contrast with 29% of those who had expectation to the policy Abe would promotes. It is likely that the politics in Japan is going to be a confrontation between LDP and the opposite powers centered by CDPJ.