Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, plagued by suspected cronyism scandals and cover-ups and with his ratings sliding, will likely step down in June, former leader Junichiro Koizumi was quoted Monday as telling a weekly magazine.
A survey by broadcaster Nippon TV released Sunday showed Abe's support had sunk to 26.7 percent, the lowest since the conservative lawmaker took office in December 2012. An Asahi newspaper poll published Monday put his rating at 31 percent.
Abe's sliding ratings raise doubts over whether he can win a third three-year term as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party' leader in a September vote that he needs to win to stay in office, or whether he might even resign before the vote.