Research Director Sota Kato told the Straits Times that the two-week extension of the COVID-19 state of emergency declared by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was a last-ditch attempt to avoid going into the LDP presidential vote in late September with a weak mandate.

“The Suga Cabinet has been relying on optimistic scenarios rather than preparing for the worst in its crisis management,” Kato said in the Straits Times article.

“Time and again, reality has failed to live up to its expectations and as a result, it appears reactive in taking actions after the fact. This is one reason why Suga appears to have lost the trust of the people.”

“Japan PM Suga Has Eye on Politics with Two-Week Covid-19 Emergency Extension,” Straits Times
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-pm-suga-has-eye-on-politics-with-two-week-covid-19-emergency-extension

Profile of Research Director Sota Kato
https://www.tkfd.or.jp/en/experts/detail.php?id=29