Key Takeaways:
– Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s position could be in jeopardy due to upcoming snap elections.
– Despite having a solid base of supporters, Ishiba has had a rocky relationship with the LDP.
– Ishiba promises substantial social change and pledges to address Japan’s falling population.
– Some of his decisions, however, have caused a dip in his approval ratings.
– Despite the slide in popularity, his fate post the election remains uncertain.
The Life and Times of Shigeru Ishiba
Japan’s serving Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, might be a model ship enthusiast and a defense geek with a penchant for trains and 1970s pop, but his tenure might be on the line. Upcoming snap elections this Sunday could spell trouble, according to several polls.
Ishiba’s Rise to Power
Last month, the 67-year-old Prime Minister managed to ward off eight rivals to become the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). This party has had a near-constant grip on Japan’s governance for the past seventy years. Ishiba rose to power on October 1, filling in for Fumio Kishida. Kishida’s administration had been embroiled in controversies over a slew of issues like rising prices, a scandal involving illegal funds, and problematic LDP ties to a Christian movement.
Despite consistently being popular with the public, Ishiba had made four unsuccessful attempts at grabbing the party’s leadership. In fact, in 2012, he was pitted against his old rival, Shinzo Abe. Ishiba’s frank critiques of LDP’s policies under Abe’s reign didn’t make him particularly popular among the party heavyweights. Despite this, he managed to snag the top job by being vocal about reforming the Liberal Democratic Party.
Ishiba’s Vision: A ‘New Japan’
After assuming his position, Ishiba wasted no time in proving his mettle. Barely one week into his tenure, he announced snap elections. He asserted that the election was an attempt to create a ‘new Japan’ and to transform Japanese society fundamentally.
Ishiba has been quite vocal about his plans for the country. He aims to revitalise the rural areas and tackle the shrinking population issue. He believes the latter is a ‘quiet emergency’. His plan to tackle this issue includes adopting measures like flexible work hours. He also plans to boost the national minimum wage. However, experts fear this step might pose as a hurdle to small enterprises.
He has also been candid about situational awareness, stating that “today’s Ukraine could be tomorrow’s East Asia”, calling the regional environment most grim since World War II. Ishiba backs a regional military alliance similar to NATO to thwart China, though he forewarns it won’t be an overnight development.
However, his approval for the Bank of Japan’s exit from ultra-loose policies has led to the Yen’s surge and a consequent fall in the stock market.
Declining Popularity
Despite enjoying an initial cabinet approval rating of about 45-50 percent, Ishiba’s approval ratings have dipped recently. This is partially due to Ishiba retracting his stand on certain issues like allowing married couples to use separate surnames. He also backtracked on a promise to raise the capital gains tax rate.
The pace at which he modernised too was deemed unsatisfactory as he appointed only two women to his cabinet, which was a drop from five in the previous administration.
However, it remains to be seen how these controversies will impact the upcoming elections. Whether Ishiba’s status as the Prime Minister, is up for a debate, keeps the socio-political spectrum of Japan on the edge.