Abe Cabinet's approval rating plunges to 37.7% from 47.4%

The approval rating for the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plunged to 37.7 percent from 47.4 percent in June, as a majority of the public opposes the way controversial security bills were passed through the lower house on Thursday, a Kyodo News poll showed Saturday.

The disapproval rating rose to 51.6 percent, compared with 43.0 percent last month, Kyodo News Agency reported on Saturday.

In the telephone survey conducted Friday and Saturday, 73.3 percent of respondents said they do not support the way the security bills were passed, while 21.4 percent said they support it. The ruling coalition pushed the bills through the House of Representatives despite strong objections by opposition parties.