Japan PM Kishida’s support plunges amid stale ideas, LDP scandals: ‘he’s on autopilot’

In Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is facing a tough time. Recent surveys show that his popularity has dropped a lot. Only 24% of people think he's doing a good job, which is the lowest since his political party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), won the elections in 2012. It's even lower than the support his predecessor had before he resigned.

When Kishida became Prime Minister, people were hopeful because he seemed less aggressive than the previous leaders, Abe and Suga. But as time went on, Kishida continued with the same security and economic policies as them, and it seemed like he didn't have any new ideas. People started to think he was just trying to stay in power without really changing anything.

Kishida's hints at calling an early election seemed like a way to keep his position, which didn't impress the public or his party. He also upset the right-wing members of the LDP, who were kept under control by Abe until he was tragically killed. Now, they're getting restless without Abe, and Kishida is struggling to keep everyone happy.

The Japanese people are also upset about the rising costs of living, like food and gas, while their paychecks stay the same. The government's plan to give a small tax break doesn't seem to match up with the big increase in defense spending and the huge national debt. People are calling for real changes and new policies, but they doubt Kishida is the right person for that.

Kishida's choices for government positions have also been criticized. A parliamentary secretary had to resign over an affair, and a vice-finance minister stepped down for not paying property taxes. There's also been a scandal involving the Unification Church, which has been accused of taking too much money from its followers. Some of Kishida's ministers were linked to this church, which has caused more problems.

As people wonder if Kishida will stay as Prime Minister, a poll by the Asahi newspaper showed who might replace him. Names like Shinjiro Koizumi, Shigeru Ishiba, and Taro Kono are being mentioned. Whether Kishida steps down on his own or is pushed out will affect who becomes the next leader of Japan.