Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving PM in Japanese history, has announced his resignation due to health concerns, CNN reports.
What We Know:
- Abe suffers from an incurable bowel disease called colitis which has been cited as the reason for his departure with just one year left in his term. The same disease was the reason Abe resigned after the first year of his first term in 2007. “Even though there is one year to go in my tenure and there are challenges to be met, I have decided to stand down as prime minister,” he said in his statement from Tokyo Friday.
- He continued by expressing his apologies to the Japanese people for resigning during the COVID-19 pandemic, but noted that he needs to fight the disease and be treated. “For almost eight years I controlled my chronic disease, however, this year in June I had a regular check-up and there was a sign of the disease. I made a judgment that I should not continue my job as prime minister,” he added.
- Shinzo Abe was in the midst of his fourth term as Japanese Prime Minister, being reelected in 2019. Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which Abe is a member, is currently in control of both houses of parliament. Unlike the presidential system, Abe’s successor is chosen by members of parliament which means there is a good chance the new Prime Minister is from the LDP.
Japanese markets fell after the news broke with the Nikkei index closing down 1.4% Friday. Abe has said that he will remain in office until a new Prime Minister is chosen.
