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The approval rating for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet slid to 25 percent, the lowest level for any administration since the Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in 2012, an Asahi Shimbun survey showed.

The figure fell from 29 percent in the previous survey last month, while the disapproval rating rose to a record 65 percent, up 5 points from the 11-year high recorded in October, the survey showed.

And although the support rating for the ruling LDP is also declining, the opposition bloc has failed to take advantage, with the main parties languishing with single-digit support ratings.

The nationwide telephone survey was conducted on Nov. 18 and 19.

It showed that unpopularity for the Kishida Cabinet has spread among the public despite its package of economic stimulus measures, including income tax cuts and cash handouts for low-income households to help mitigate the impact of rising prices.

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Prime Minister Fumio Kishida enters the prime minister’s office on Nov. 14. (Takeshi Iwashita)

Sixty-eight percent of respondents in the survey said they “do not appreciate” these measures, compared with 28 percent who expressed appreciation.

Responses varied by age group. Among those aged 18 to 29, 36 percent indicated their appreciation, while the figure was 20 percent among respondents in their 50s.

In another economic measure, the Children and Families Agency proposed adding a surcharge to medical insurance premiums to gain more funds to combat Japan’s declining birthrate.

Only 22 percent of respondents supported the proposal, while 68 percent opposed it.

Among 18- to 29-year-olds, support for the measure was 33 percent, while 14 percent of those aged 70 and older approved of the plan.

Kishida’s economic package has also apparently failed to win over those who back the ruling party.

Among LDP supporters, the Cabinet approval rating was 59 percent, down from 70 percent last month and falling below the 60-percent level for the first time.

The Cabinet approval rating among unaffiliated voters was 10 percent, the lowest in the 11 years since the LDP regained control of government.

The support rate for the LDP was 27 percent, the fifth consecutive month since July for the figure to fall below 30 percent.

Before that, the LDP’s support rate had dropped into the 20-percent range only three times since 2012, all during Shinzo Abe’s administration.

However, the opposition parties still remain far behind the LDP.

The support rates for the two largest opposition parties--the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party)—were both 5 percent.

The support rate of the Cabinet of Yoshihide Suga fell to 28 percent in August 2021 before he resigned as prime minister.

Many respondents in the latest survey voiced dissatisfaction with Kishida’s overall performance since he succeeded Suga two years ago.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they did not trust Kishida, compared with 26 percent who said they did.

Three senior government officials--a parliamentary secretary of education, a state minister of justice and a state minister of finance--have resigned over scandals since Kishida reshuffled his Cabinet in September.

Asked about the responsibility of Kishida, who appointed the three to the posts, 61 percent of respondents said he should be held greatly accountable, exceeding the 35 percent who said his responsibility was “not so great.”

The survey was conducted through calls to randomly selected telephone numbers. Among those contacted via landline, 441, or 48 percent, gave valid responses, while the figures were 645, or 36 percent, from among those contacted by cellphone.

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