Overview
- A Jiji Press poll conducted June 12–15 found cabinet support at 54.3 percent, the lowest since the cabinet formed, while disapproval rose to 22.2 percent.
- Media reports that the prime minister’s camp posted defamatory social-media videos during last year’s LDP presidential contest have resurfaced and ruling-party MPs say the reports leave a bad impression.
- The same poll found 40.7 percent of respondents favor cutting the consumption tax on food to 0 percent and 29.4 percent favor a 1 percent cut, with LDP supporters narrowly split between the two options.
- Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara limited the government’s response to pledges to carry out policies, while opposition leaders criticized the cabinet’s handling of rising prices and questioned the prime minister’s fitness.
- Party insiders warn choosing a 1 percent cut instead of the election‑pledged zero could deepen the political damage and the broader debate raises fiscal concerns about how lost tax revenue would be replaced.