Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns

Tokyo [Japan], Aug 28 (ANI): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday officially announced his plan to step down, citing health issues.
“In June this year, I was told that there were signs of recurrence of my chronic condition called ulcerative colitis, and I did my best at work. while taking medicine,” Abe told a press conference, reported Sputnik.
“But starting the middle of last month, my physical condition changed, and I felt very exhausted. Recurrence of the disease was confirmed at the beginning of this month,” he added.
Abe said that he would step down because his worsened condition and treatment could threaten the decision-making process.
“In politics, getting results is the most important thing. Facing illness and treatment and being in poor physical form, I could not let myself make mistakes in important political decisions and fail to achieve results,” he said further.
“I have decided that I should not continue to hold the position of the prime minister, as I can no longer firmly carry out the mandate given to me by the people. I’ve decided to resign as Prime Minister,” Sputnik reported further quoting Abe.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary to join race for succeeding Abe

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga will join the race to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who would, in turn, become the next country’s premier, a source familiar with the matter told Kyodo News Agency on Sunday.
Suga, the chief spokesperson for the government, informed LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai about his desire to contest the party’s leadership election, a day after Abe announced he would step down as the Prime Minister due to health concerns, the source said.
Some senior members of the LDP have lauded Suga for his crisis management abilities, underlining that it is crucial to maintain policy continuity in the fight against COVID-19, the source added.
According to senior party lawmakers, the election is slated to be held on or around September 15. LDP policy chief and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba have also indicated their intention to participate in the election.
The Prime Minister has directed Nikai to make decisions regarding the party leadership race.
Suga, who has been serving as the government’s top spokesperson since Abe assumed power in 2012, is one of the Prime Minister‘s closest aides and was considered a potential contender.
He had earlier ruled out succeeding Abe, saying he “never thought about it,” according to Kyodo News Agency.
Abe, the longest-serving Japanese Prime Minister, is stepping down due to ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease which earlier forced him to resign from the post of the premiership in 2007.
The 65-year-old leader said on Friday that he will continue to carry out his duties until the LDP elects its new leader, who will subsequently become the new prime minister.

Japan mulls picking new Prime Minister on September 17

Japan is considering to hold an extraordinary parliamentary session on September 17 to pick the country’s new Prime Minister to succeed Shinzo Abe, local media reported on Sunday.
According to public broadcaster NHK, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is expected to decide when and how to choose its next leader in a General Council meeting on September 1.
Meanwhile, LDP top officials are making final arrangements to have its members in both houses of the Diet meet around September 13-15 to choose the party’s president. Then, the party plans to call an extraordinary parliamentary session to elect the new prime minister on September 17, according to the report.
Currently, LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson Fumio Kishida and former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba have shown interest in running in the party’s presidential race. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga is also seen as a potential candidate. (ANI/Xinhua)