Japan PM Suga trips up with messy reversal on tourism campaign

Japan PM Suga trips up with messy reversal on tourism campaign

Japan PM Suga trips up with messy reversal on tourism campaign

3 hours ago

Yoshihide Suga speaks during a news conference in Tokyo, Japan. File photo/Reuters

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's abrupt decision to partially pause a domestic travel campaign amid rising COVID-19 cases - after insisting it would go ahead - looks likely to cost him support and may cloud his chances of a long-term tenure.

Suga, who took the top job in September after Shinzo Abe resigned citing illness, has enjoyed solid ratings of over 50%, buoyed by an image as a down-to-earth leader pushing popular policies such as lower mobile phone rates.

But critics said his reversal on a programme he has backed to bolster the economy even as new cases spiked was too little, too late, and risked leaving the image of a leader both stubborn and indecisive, without due care for public health.

"It's a display of indecisiveness that gives people a lot of reason to be resentful,“ said Sophia University professor Koichi Nakano.

Abe's support ratings never recovered after sagging on the perception that his response to the pandemic was flawed.

Suga is serving out Abe's remaining term to next September and must win a ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership race then