Six months after an uncertain start, the administration of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is enjoying a period of stability, or so it seems. In contrast, immediately after the Liberal Democratic Party's defeat in June's Lower House election, the governing party was gripped by a feeling that it would not be able to win next year's Upper House election as long as Mr. Mori was at the helm.
According to an opinion poll conducted nationwide by Kyodo News Service Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 33.4 percent supported the Mori Cabinet, up one percentage point from the last poll in July. Many LDP members who were disappointed with Mr. Mori six months ago are now relieved that the slide in his approval rating has finally stopped.
Seen from a different angle, however, the survey results show that the pattern of disapproval remains basically unchanged, with as many as 58.2 percent still saying no to the Mori administration. The biggest reason given for approval is that there is "no other appropriate person." Only 5 percent or less support his policies.