TOKYO (Reuters) – Support for the government of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida jumped in a survey taken at the weekend, but voters remained dubious about its proposals, including new childcare plans aimed at reversing the declining birthrate.
On Saturday, Kishida was evacuated unhurt after a suspect threw what appeared to be a smoke bomb at an outdoor speech in western Japan, an incident echoing the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at an election campaign even in July.
A survey conducted by ANN television on Saturday and Sunday found 45.3% of respondents supported Kishida’s government, up 10.2 points from the previous month.
But roughly 80% did not think the government’s childcare plans would do much to solve the low birthrate problem and some 60% disagreed with funding those plans by increasing the burden on taxpayers.
A leading ruling party lawmaker told Reuters on April 13 that Japan should…
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