Will 'Teflon' Abe fall as scandals pile up?

Japan PM feels the heat as he faces protests, low approval ratings, opposition boycotts

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's odds of becoming the country's longest-serving premier have fallen as scandals resurface five months before a key leadership vote. PHOTO: REUTERS
Demonstrators protesting against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe outside the National Diet building in Tokyo on April 14. Approval ratings for Mr Abe's Cabinet fell to 38.4 per cent, according to a Jiji poll conducted from April 6 to 9. Prime Minister Shin
Demonstrators protesting against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe outside the National Diet building in Tokyo on April 14. Approval ratings for Mr Abe's Cabinet fell to 38.4 per cent, according to a Jiji poll conducted from April 6 to 9. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Walter Sim
Japan Correspondent
Updated
Apr 22, 2018, 06:42 AM
Published
Apr 22, 2018, 05:00 AM
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TOKYO • The scandals just will not die. Favouritism, forgery, cover-ups and now, a sexual harassment case.

Just six months ago, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a stunning victory in a snap election - despite suffering a bruising year of scandals.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 22, 2018, with the headline Will 'Teflon' Abe fall as scandals pile up?. Subscribe

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