Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns due to health reasons
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving prime minister in the country, announced his resignation on Friday, citing health concerns, ending his leadership duties of the third largest economy in the world after he sought to revive its growth and strengthen its defenses.
"I have decided to resign from the premiership because I believe that I cannot continue in the position unless I have confidence in my ability to perform the job that the people have assigned to me," Abe, 65, said in a press conference.
He added that he has decided to resign now to avoid a power vacuum at a time when the country is coping with the repercussions of the new Corona virus.
"I apologize from the bottom of my heart because, despite all the support from the Japanese people, I will leave the post before my term of office for a full year ends," he said.
Abe said he felt "deeply sorry" for his failure to change Japan's constitution, which renounces war, to conclude a peace treaty with Russia after World War II, on the basis of regional discord, or to solve the problems of Japanese citizens who were kidnapped by Pyongyang a decade ago.
This is the second time that Abe resigns due to his health condition, as he resigned from the position in 2007 after spending one year there, and for health reasons as well.
Abe has been suffering from ulcerative colitis for years, and his frequent visits to the hospital twice within one week recently raised questions about whether he could stay in office until the end of his term as leader of the ruling party and prime minister in September 2021.
Various governments have expressed regret over Abe's resignation.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin regrets the resignation, describing the working relations between Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin as "wonderful."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also expressed her regret at Abe’s resignation and told reporters, "I regret his resignation and I wish him all the best ... We worked well together."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Abe’s record and wrote on Twitter, “Shinzo Abe has achieved great things during Japan’s premiership, for his country and for the world.” He added, "Thank you for everything you have provided during the years of service, and I wish you health."
South Korea also expressed regret and said that Abe played a strong role in the bilateral relations between the two countries. Presidential Blue House spokesman Kang Min-suk said in a statement that his country will continue to cooperate with Japan's new leader and cabinet to further improve relations between the two countries.
Abe’s resignation sets a race for leadership within the LDP and whoever formally wins it will have to be elected in parliament. The new leader of the ruling party will lead the country as prime minister for the remainder of Abe's term.
Media reported that former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida have shown interest in taking the post. Among the other names on the table is Abe's close advisor, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
On Monday, Abe broke the record for the longest consecutive term as prime minister that his great-uncle Isako Sato had held half a century ago.
Abe’s resignation comes at a time when the geopolitical climate is ambiguous amid the growing confrontation between the United States and China and ahead of the US presidential elections in November.
The conservative Abe returned as prime minister for a rare second term in December 2012, vowing to revive growth with a combination of easy monetary policy, fiscal spending and reforms. He also pledged to bolster Japan's defenses and wanted to revise the country's pacifist constitution.
Abe has been criticized for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals among party members, and recently saw his support level drop to one of the lowest levels in nearly eight years in office.
Japan has not seen the significant increase in HIV cases seen in other countries, but Abe has faced criticism for floundering in managing the crisis in its infancy and what some describe as a lack of leadership as the infection spreads.
Abe was able to fulfill his pledges to strengthen the country's defense, increase military spending after declining for years, and expand Japan's ability to project influence abroad.
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