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August 28, 2020 - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has explained to the Liberal Democratic Party that he will step down because his health conditions make it difficult for him to make the right decisions. The news agency Kyodo News reported, citing government sources.


According to Jiji Press, Abe explained that his chronic illness has returned. "Ulcerative colitis has come back, he said, there is also a risk of getting worse. I didn't intend to quit as suddenly as during my previous stint and cause problems." Abe, according to some news agencies, plans to remain as prime minister in office until his successor can take over. Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has already announced his readiness to take up Abe's legacy.

The resignation
Rumors of his resignation had been circulating for days. To anticipate the public TV NHK. The disease had already forced him to resign between 2005 and 2006. The Japanese premier, a few days ago, had returned to the hospital for medical checks. 

The longest-serving prime minister ever
On August 24, Abe had become the longest-serving Japanese prime minister ever, breaking the record of his great-uncle, Eisaku Sato in office 2,798 days without interruption.
A primacy resulting from the union of the first short term, between 2006 and 2007, and the subsequent period in government, starting from 2012 to today. The last electoral victory of the conservative party in the political elections of 2017 would have allowed Abe to govern until September 2021.

Totonomine
The totonomine for Abe's successor has already started in the Japanese media. Leading the list once again is 63-year-old Shigeru Ishiba, former Minister of Defense and previous challenger to Abe at the head of the Liberal Democratic party. Among the favorites also the current Minister of Defense Taro Kono, who also held the role of Foreign Minister in Abe's previous council of ministers. Also on the list is the current head of the conservative party's supervisory commission, Fumio Kishida, the 71-year-old head of cabinet Yoshihide Suga, a man among Abe's most loyal allies. Another name is that of Finance Minister Taro Aso, who already served as head of government for a short time at the end of 2008.