Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s support rate rose 10 points to outstrip his disapproval rating for the first time since February, a survey showed Monday, improving his chances of weathering a series of scandals to become Japan’s longest-serving leader.

Abe’s ratings have been on a roller coaster since last year, when the public learned of the heavily discounted sale of state-owned land to a nationalist school operator with ties to his wife. Questions also arose over the government’s approval of a new veterinary school for another educational body run by his close friend.

Abe’s support rate jumped to 52 percent in a June 22 to 24 survey by the Nikkei business daily, while his disapproval rating fell to 42 percent.

Those backing Abe cited his global view and the stability of his government as the reason — though a hefty majority of voters still don’t think the scandals have been resolved, the paper said. International news, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, overshadowed scandal news in June.

Abe, who returned to power for a rare second term in 2012 promising to reboot the economy and strengthen the role of the military, also topped the list of people voters want to see win the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership race in September.

Abe took 30 percent, telegenic young lawmaker Shinjiro Koizumi 26 percent and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba 20 percent. Ishiba has signaled he intends to run, but few expect Koizumi, 37, to do so.

Among other potential rivals, Internal Affairs Minister Seiko Noda garnered 4 percent. Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his successor, Taro Kono, tied at 3 percent.

“In Nagatacho (Tokyo’s political district), the mood is strong that Abe will be re-elected,” LDP lawmaker Koichi Hagiuda, an Abe ally, said recently.

If Abe wins re-election as LDP head and his party remains in power, he could stay prime minister into September 2021. Combined with his 2006-2007 tenure, that would make him the longest-serving leader of a country more accustomed to short-term leaders.

Whether Abe could then achieve his goal of revising the pacifist constitution, however, is far from clear. He wants to add a clause to Article 9 to legitimize the Self-Defense Forces. Read literally, Article 9 bans a standing military but has been interpreted to allow armed forces for self-defense.

An April survey by NHK showed 31 percent backed the proposal, 23 percent opposed it, and 46 percent either couldn’t say or didn’t know.