Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, as per reports, is facing a troubling outlook as he prepares for the October 27 general election. His dismal approval ratings — the lowest for any new Japanese leader in decades — are threatening his leadership and the stability of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).&nbsp;

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:85,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1771}">What is Ishiba's public rating?</h2>

Ishiba's current public support, as per the South China Morning Post (SCMP) stands at just 28 per cent, according to a recent Jiji Press poll. This marks the lowest initial approval for a new Japanese leader since 2000. Even though this is slightly better than former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's 18.7 per cent before he exited the leadership race in September, it still fails to reach the critical 30 per cent threshold, which analysts consider a "danger zone" for political leaders.

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Kishida started his term with over 40 per cent support, while his predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, began with 51.2 per cent.&nbsp;

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Political analyst Stephen Nagy anticipates that the LDP could lose its absolute majority, but may remain in power with the help of its junior coalition partner, Komeito.

"I expect the LDP to lose its absolute majority but probably remain in power with Komeito, which will in return be able to promote some of its more family-friendly social policies," said Nagy, a politics professor at Tokyo's International Christian University as quoted by SCMP.

He said that a complete loss of power is also "possible", though unlikely, given the disarray among opposition parties, which have struggled to unite behind strong candidates.

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Ishiba was chosen as party leader due to his clean image amid several scandals that have plagued the LDP. However, he has struggled to distance himself from these issues.

Currently, the LDP holds 247 seats in the 465-member chamber, allowing for a comfortable majority without Komeito's 32 seats. However, retaining the necessary 233 seats to maintain that majority is increasingly doubtful given the low approval ratings.&nbsp;

A Yomiuri newspaper survey suggests that among 266 candidates in single-seat districts, only 100 appear secure, while about 120 races remain too close to call, and another 40 candidates face significant opposition.

(With inputs from agencies)

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, as per reports, is facing a troubling outlook as he prepares for the October 27 general election. His dismal approval ratings — the lowest for any new Japanese leader in decades — are threatening his leadership and the stability of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, as per reports, is facing a troubling outlook as he prepares for the October 27 general election. His dismal approval ratings — the lowest for any new Japanese leader in decades — are threatening his leadership and the stability of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). What is Ishiba's public rating? Ishiba's current public support, as per the South China Morning Post (SCMP) stands at just 28 per cent, according to a recent Jiji Press poll. This marks the lowest initial approval for a new Japanese leader since 2000. Even though this is slightly better than former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's 18.7 per cent before he exited the leadership race in September, it still fails to reach the critical 30 per cent threshold, which analysts consider a "danger zone" for political leaders. Also read | Crunch of successors in royal family called out in Japan parliament, PM asks for debate Kishida started his term with over 40 per cent support, while his predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, began with 51.2 per cent. What does this mean for the Japanese PM? Political analyst Stephen Nagy anticipates that the LDP could lose its absolute majority, but may remain in power with the help of its junior coalition partner, Komeito. "I expect the LDP to lose its absolute majority but probably remain in power with Komeito, which will in return be able to promote some of its more family-friendly social policies," said Nagy, a politics professor at Tokyo's International Christian University as quoted by SCMP. He said that a complete loss of power is also "possible", though unlikely, given the disarray among opposition parties, which have struggled to unite behind strong candidates. Also read | Japan is giving away free flight tickets, but there is a catch. Are you eligible? Ishiba was chosen as party leader due to his clean image amid several scandals that have plagued the LDP. However, he has struggled to distance himself from these issues. Currently, the LDP holds 247 seats in the 465-member chamber, allowing for a comfortable majority without Komeito's 32 seats. However, retaining the necessary 233 seats to maintain that majority is increasingly doubtful given the low approval ratings. A Yomiuri newspaper survey suggests that among 266 candidates in single-seat districts, only 100 appear secure, while about 120 races remain too close to call, and another 40 candidates face significant opposition. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan's new PM Ishiba struggles with historically low approval ratings as election nears

The Japanese Parliament on Tuesday (Oct 1) formally elected Shigeru Ishiba as the Prime Minister. Ishiba, the country's former defence minister, was elected as PM last Friday to replace Fumio Kishida.

The Japanese Parliament on Tuesday (Oct 1) formally elected Shigeru Ishiba as the Prime Minister. Ishiba, the country's former defence minister, was elected as PM last Friday to replace Fumio Kishida. Last weekend, Ishiba, 67, was chosen as the prime minister after he won the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership race, clinching a run-off victory after a contest among an unprecedentedly large field of nine candidates. PM Ishiba has also announced his cabinet, which includes several security and defense experts. Ishiba appointed to his Cabinet two former defense ministers — Takeshi Iwaya as foreign minister and Gen Nakatani as defense chief. Only two of the 19 ministers are women: actor-turned-lawmaker Junko Mihara as children’s policy minister and Toshiko Abe as education minister. Both portfolios are considered low-profile. The number of women is Japan cabinet has also reduced, from four under PM Fumio Kishida. The government is under pressure to increase the number of women in public office. Women now account for only 10% of the lower house, placing Japan near the bottom of global gender-equality rankings. Ishiba appointed several ministers who voted for him in the party leadership poll and retained Kishida's top confidante, Yoshimasa Hayashi, as chief Cabinet secretary. He also appointed Katsunobu Kato as finance minister. Hayashi also previously served as defense minister. Ishiba announces snap election for October On Sunday, Ishiba announced his plan to call a snap election in Japan later on October 27. “I believe it is important to have the new administration get the public’s judgment as soon as possible,” he said. Also read | Shigeru Ishiba willing to consider a snap election on Oct 27 The Associated Press report said that opposition parties criticised Ishiba for allowing only a short period for his policies to be examined and discussed in parliament before the national election. What has Ishiba proposed as PM? > Ishiba has proposed an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). “The absence of a collective self-defence system like NATO in Asia means that wars are likely to break out because there is no obligation for mutual defence. Under these circumstances, the creation of an Asian version of NATO is essential to deter China from its Western allies,” the 67-year-old wrote in an article to the Hudson Institute last week. > He has proposed more discussion among regional partners about the use of the US nuclear deterrence. > Ishiba has proposed combining existing security and diplomatic groupings, such as the Quad and other bilateral and multilateral frameworks involving the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and the Philippines. Also watch | Race to Power: Shigeru Ishiba calls for snap election on October 27 × > He has also stressed that Japan needs to reinforce its security, noting recent violations of Japanese airspace by Russian and Chinese warplanes and repeated missile launches by North Korea. > Ishiba pledged to continue Kishida’s economic policy aimed at pulling Japan out of deflation and achieving real salary increases while tackling challenges such as Japan’s declining birthrate and population and resilience to natural disasters. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan formally elects Shigeru Ishiba as prime minister, cabinet announced

Japan's incoming Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba suggested on Sunday (Sep 29) that he was willing to consider a snap election in the near future, on October 27. Ishiba, 67, won the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership race last Friday, clinching a run-off win after a contest among an unprecedentedly large field of nine candidates.

Japan's incoming Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba suggested on Sunday (Sep 29) that he was willing to consider a snap election in the near future, on October 27. Ishiba, 67, won the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership race last Friday, clinching a run-off win after a contest among an unprecedentedly large field of nine candidates. His picks for finance, defence and foreign minister, as well as the pivotal post of chief cabinet secretary, appear to draw on seasoned veterans from the LDP, as he prepares to form a government on Tuesday. Also read | Former Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba to become country's next PM In a televised interview, Ishiba suggested to call out the snap election. Citing LDP sources, state media later reported that Ishiba would dissolve the lower house of Parliament on October 9, with an election set for October 27. A look at Ishiba's cabinet A report by the news agency Reuters said that for his cabinet, Ishiba is set to name former chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato as finance minister and bring Gen Nakatani back as defence minister. Former defence minister Takeshi Iwaya will assume the foreign minister post while Yoshimasa Hayashi will remain as chief cabinet secretary, a key post that includes the role of top government spokesperson. Ryosei Akazawa, the state minister of finance, will be minister of economic revitalisation, Reuters reported. Also watch | Japan's Ishiba eyeing for snap elections in October × Absent, however, from picks so far reported in local media is Sanae Takaichi, the hardline conservative Ishiba beat by 215 votes to 194 on Friday in the closest leadership election in almost 70 years. Takaichi's exclusion could make it difficult for Ishiba to manage a fractious ruling group roiled by scandals that have sapped its public support. Ishiba speaks on Japan's monetary policy During the interview on Sunday, Ishiba said Japan's monetary policy must remain accommodative as a trend, signalling the need to keep borrowing costs low to underpin a fragile economic recovery. It was not immediately clear whether Ishiba, who had been a vocal critic of the Bank of Japan's past aggressive monetary easing, was taking a more dovish line with his remarks. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan's incoming PM Shigeru Ishiba willing to consider a snap election on Oct 27

Former Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba will become the country's next prime minister after he won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership vote on Friday (Sept 27).

Former Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba will become the country's next prime minister after he won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership vote on Friday (Sept 27). Ishiba, 67, defeated Minister of State for Economic Security Sanae Takaichi- who could have been the country's first-ever woman prime minister, a report by the news agency AFP said. Ishiba has come close to the top job before, including in 2012 when he lost to nationalist Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving leader who was later assassinated. Who is Shigeru Ishiba? Ishiba was born on February 4, 1957, in Tokyo. His father Jiro was a government official who was elected Governor of Tottori Prefecture in 1958. Jiro served as Minister for Home Affairs in the Zenkō Suzuki Cabinet. Also read | Japan confronts labor shortages as elderly population reaches record high Shigeru Ishiba studied law at Tokyo's Keio University, graduating in 1979. Before entering the world of politics in the early 1980s, he worked at Mitsui Bank. In the July 1986 election, Ishiba ran as an LDP candidate in the Tottori at-large district and was elected to the House of Representatives. At 29, he was the youngest member of the House at the time. He served as the defence minister from 2007 to 2008 under then prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, and minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries under Tarō Asō from 2008 to 2009. The road ahead for the new PM After his victory was announced at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters in Tokyo, Ishiba smiled and took off his glasses to wipe his teary eyes, bowing repeatedly as his associates congratulated him. "I will do my utmost to believe in the people, to speak the truth with courage and sincerity, and to make this country a safe and secure place where everyone can live with a smile on their face once again," he said in a short speech. As the upcoming PM, Ishiba would need to face down regional security threats, from an increasingly assertive China and its deepening ties with Russia to North Korea's banned missile tests. At home, the 67-year-old would be tasked with breathing life into the economy, as the central bank moves away from decades of monetary easing that has slashed the value of the yen. (With inputs from agencies)

Former Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba to become country's next PM