Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, plagued by suspected cronyism scandals and cover-ups and with his ratings sliding, will likely step down in June, former leader Junichiro Koizumi was quoted Monday as telling a weekly magazine.
A survey by broadcaster Nippon TV released Sunday showed Abe¡¯s support had sunk to 26.7 percent, the lowest since the conservative lawmaker took office in December 2012. An Asahi newspaper poll published Monday put his rating at 31 percent.
Abe¡¯s sliding ratings raise doubts over whether he can win a third three-year term as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party¡¯ leader in a September vote that he needs to win to stay in office, or whether he might even resign before the vote.
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