Sanaenomics Ignores Voter Needs
Personality counts for a lot in politics, at least for a while. It’s giving Sanae Takaichi a big honeymoon in her initial approval ratings.
Yet, personality cannot overcome the fact that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is out of touch with voter needs and opinions.
I was struck by the LDP’s blindness in January when I asked an LDP leader: “What message were the voters sending when they denied the LDP a majority in the Lower House?” He smugly replied: “There was no message. Voters were just upset about the campaign finance scandals, and that will soon wear off. We’ll win the coming Upper House election.”
The LDP’s right wing is still in denial, insisting the party lost its majority because of Shigeru Ishiba. On the contrary, in an Asahi poll 81% said the LDP lost due to problems with the party as a whole.
Takaichi also tells herself that voters recall Abenomics with fondness. In reality, a Jiji Press poll in 2021 found that only 15% wanted Kishida to continue Abenomics.
Author's summary: LDP ignores voter needs and opinions.