“Hard line measures don’t work”… 'Right-wing policy accelerator' Japan Yushinhoe's approval rating stagnates

(Tokyo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Cho Sung-mi = Kyodo News reported on the 3rd that the ruling coalition party Japan Restoration, which supports the Sanae Takaichi administration by claiming to be an 'accelerator' for right-wing policies such as Japan's possession of nuclear-powered submarines and the stipulation of the Self-Defense Force constitution, is struggling with stagnant approval ratings.

Immediately after Prime Minister Takaichi was elected as the new president of the Liberal Democratic Party in October last year, the Komeito Party, which had cooperated with the Liberal Democratic Party for 26 years, declared its departure from the coalition government, making his inauguration as prime minister uncertain. However, the right-wing Japan Restoration Association agreed to establish a coalition government and is playing the role of an 'ally'.

The Japan Restoration Association argues that Japan should reexamine the three non-nuclear principles of not possessing, manufacturing, or importing nuclear weapons, which it has maintained as a national policy, and begin possessing nuclear-powered submarines.

In addition, they are demanding that the Liberal Democratic Party take charge of hard-line security-related policies that they are hesitant to publicize out of awareness of opposing public opinion, such as amending the Japanese Constitution, which stipulates that Japan does not have a military, and calling for the Self-Defense Forces to be designated as the "National Defense Force."

The Japan Restoration Association plans to begin consultations with the Liberal Democratic Party this month ahead of the revision within the year of the three major security documents that summarize Japan's defense strategy, and an executive of the party expressed its will to Kyodo News, saying, "We will carry out our claims even if it means calling ourselves a villain."

However, despite the recent right-wing trend in Japanese society, the Japan Restoration's hard-line tendencies do not seem to be helping much in increasing approval ratings.

In a Kyodo News poll conducted immediately after the party's former secretary-general Hiroshi Nakatsuka took office as minister in charge of regulatory reform and shifted from external cooperation with the Takaichi administration to internal cooperation, the party's approval rating in September was 5.9%, similar to the previous month.

Then, last month, the approval rating only rose slightly to 6.7%.

The Japan Restoration Association's ambitious plan to reduce the number of seats in the House of Representatives (House of Representatives) by 45 has also been reduced to 31 seats by the Liberal Democratic Party to accommodate the People's Democratic Party, the other major opposition party.

In addition, it is reported that the plan to promote Osaka, the party's main support region, as a deputy capital has limitations in raising local approval ratings.

The Japan Restoration Association is attempting to raise its approval rating by showing off its achievements in the field of regulatory reform, the party's 'special specialty', such as suggesting to the government the relaxation of regulations necessary for the introduction of self-driving taxis.

Meanwhile, when the Takaichi cabinet's security policy aimed at expanding defense capabilities did not receive public support as expected, it began promoting the importance of security by introducing friendly characters on 'Government Promotion Online', a website that introduces national policies.

It is interpreted that the purpose is to increase public understanding regarding the increase in defense spending that inevitably accompanies the revision of the three major security documents to expand defense capabilities.

Although the Takaichi administration revised the defense equipment export regulations in April with the main content of allowing the export of lethal weapons in principle, the Japanese people's concerns about becoming a military powerhouse are also significant, as a public opinion poll conducted in May showed that 57.2% of people opposed exports, which was higher than those in favor.