A critical moment for the Kishida administration
Many newspapers have reported on the rapid slide in approval ratings for Kishida administration.
The reason why we wrote “many newspapers” is that each newspaper has its own method of for this type of surveying, and sometimes there are differences in the results.
The results of this survey are generally consistent for all newspapers. In other words, there’s almost no doubt that the Kishida administration’s approval rating is on the decline.
The Kishida administration succeeded the Suga administration following the LDP’s landslide victory in the October 2021 House of Representatives election.
The Suga administration had many accomplishments, but some media outlets reported only criticism without mentioning those accomplishments. In parallel with some medias, the opposition coalition led by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan(hereinafter called CDP), which had joined forces with the Japanese Communist Party (hereinafter called JCP) and the like civil unions in Japan(Shimin Rengo), and its supporters launched a campaign of criticism on social networking sites(hereinafter called SNS). Pushed by this criticism campaigns, the Suga administration decided not to continue in post.
It seems that there have been few outstanding policy implementations since the Kishida administration came to power. Rather, he seemed to be implementing his policies in a safe manner.
However, as reported in the media, it is also true that the Kishida administration seems to be ‘ management of the administration with an attention to the opinions of the media.
The problem is that the media’s opinions in this case are often a noisy minority opinion, and seem to be different from actual public opinion.
The Kishida administration must also understand that there was bias in the content of SNS and some news reports that may have influenced the Suga administration’s step down.
In fact, the results of the previous the elections for the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors were the opposite of what many SNS and some news reports had being said.
The emphasis on opinions that are repeatedly voiced on social networking sites and some news reports for the management of the administration risks that only the noisy minority’s opinions will be heard.
It’s a bit of a stretch, but such an administration has the risk of negating the policies it has put forward and implementing completely opposite policies, in addition to the risk of implementing policies that many people oppose.
In a nation where diversity and freedom of speech are allowed, it is natural that a variety of opinions will be expressed through the media and SNS.
However, people who are in favor of the proposal rarely post it, and people who are against the proposal are much more likely to post it to express their own opinions and gather support.
Trying to run the administration safely while worrying about SNS and the media reports will ultimately result in losing sight of the goals and direction of the administration.
Milestones should be clearly defined for the accomplishment of the policies proposed as the administration of an elected political party.
In the process, environmental variables should be defined and the milestones revised taking into account the factors that cause the situation to change from moment to moment.
Furthermore, it will be important to implement policies in line with the overall milestones while responding to newly emerging events which will require the skill of the administration.
If the Kishida administration cannot change from the current situation, it should consider stepping down.
We think that it is time to leave the managing of the administration to the successor.
Thanks.
2023/01/08