Survey shows most Japanese approve LDP's return to power

The imminent return of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to power after its overwhelming victory in Sunday's election was viewed favourably by 58 percent of respondents to a recent Yomiuri Shimbunpoll, with 28 percent seeing the party's return to power unfavourably.

Regarding the next likely prime minister, LDP President Shinzo Abe, 54 percent said they had high expectations for him, while 42 percent did not.

The telephone survey covered 1,778 randomly selected households on Monday and Tuesday, with 1,034 eligible voters responding.

As for reasons behind the LDP's landslide victory, 55 percent of respondents said "public disappointment with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)," followed by 29 percent who said the LDP "seemed better than the other parties." Most of the reasons given were negative ones such as these.

Fifty-one percent of the respondents said it is a good thing the LDP won a major victory and the DPJ suffered a big setback, while 30 percent said the election outcome is not good.

After the DPJ swept to power in a landslide victory in the 2009 general election, 68 percent favoured this development.

Also in the latest poll, 52 percent said the LDP deserved fewer seats than it won, suggesting that many voters think the LDP won too many seats.

On the other hand, 43 percent said the DPJ should have won more seats, while 38 percent said the party won an appropriate number of seats. Fifty-one percent said the biggest factor in the DPJ's defeat was its "lack of party unity" and 21 percent cited "public dissatisfaction with the record of the DPJ-led administrations."

The LDP's approval rating was 34 percent, up from 26 percent in a survey taken on Dec 7-9 and the party's first time above 30 percent since March 2009 during the administration of Prime Minister Taro Aso. The DPJ's approval rating was 11 per cent, unchanged from the previous survey, and that of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) was 10 per cent, double the previous figure and the party's first time in double digits.

Related readings:

Focus on boosting economy, Mr Abe

Abe says LDP to improve relations with China

Abe 'must change' to build ties

Abe says to step up contact with Park

Special coverage:

Japan Election