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Over 80% say Japan gov’t economic aid slow amid virus: Kyodo poll

May 31 ,2020. 1 hour ago – 16:50 KYODO NEWS

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) speaks during an online conference of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy at his office in Tokyo on May 15, 2020, alongside Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (R) and economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura. (Kyodo)

TOKYO – More than 80 percent of respondents said they felt the government’s economic aid, including cash handouts of 100,000 yen ($927) to residents, in response to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak was slow, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday.

In the nationwide telephone survey conducted from Friday through Sunday, the approval rate for Abe’s Cabinet stood at 39.4%, down 2.3 points from the previous survey earlier in the month. The rate was below 40 percent for the first time since May 2018.

More than 80 percent of respondents said they felt the government’s economic aid, including cash handouts of 100,000 yen ($927) to residents, in response to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak was slow, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday.

In the nationwide telephone survey conducted from Friday through Sunday, the approval rate for Abe’s Cabinet stood at 39.4%, down 2.3 points from the previous survey earlier in the month. The rate was below 40 percent for the first time since May 2018.

The disapproval rate, meanwhile, was at 45.5 percent.

A total of 78.5 percent said they felt the punishment of Hiromu Kurokawa, former chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, over a gambling scandal was lenient.

The scandal led to the resignation of Japan’s second-highest ranking prosecutor, who was believed to have been especially favored by Abe’s administration, and comes as a fresh blow to the prime minister, already facing criticism over the government’s coronavirus response. He has also faced a string of money and favoritism scandals.

While 81.2 said they found the pace of the government’s economic assistance slow, only 12.5 percent thought the aid came quickly.

The survey also found that 96.0% are worried over a possible second wave of infections from the coronavirus.

Abe fully lifted the state of emergency nationwide on May 25. Even with business restrictions easing, infectious disease experts have urged the public to remain vigilant over a second wave of infections.

Also, 77.4 percent said the government’s handling of coronavirus testing has been insufficient.

CR: KYODO NEWS