Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe resigns over health concerns, apologises for leaving amid Covid-19 pandemic

Abe’s resignation ends his run as the country’s longest serving premier. The 65-year-old says he has been struggling with a relapse of his chronic illness

Explaining his decision to step down, he says ‘poor health should not lead to wrong political decisions’

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 1:26pm, 28 Aug 2020Updated: 12:36am, 29 Aug 2020

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday confirmed he was resigning for health reasons, in a move that would end his tenure as the country’s longest serving premier.

He said he had suffered a relapse of his chronic illness, ulcerative colitis, and since the middle of July his health had deteriorated and he had lost much of his energy and strength.

“I have been struggling with my illness and I have to get treatment. Poor health should not lead to wrong political decisions. I should continuously produce results,” Abe said in a press conference that was translated by local broadcaster NHK.

He said he would stay on until leaders of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held an internal vote to pick a successor, and then he would like to remain a lawmaker after handing over power. A general election is not due until October of next year and senior party lawmakers on Friday night said the LDP was considering holding a party leadership race on September 15.

“I am not confident of responding to the trust of the people while I am dealing with my illness and treatment and my health is not good,” Abe said, at times blinking back tears and choking up.

“I apologise from the bottom of my heart that despite all of the support from the Japanese people, I am leaving the post with one full year left in my term and in the midst of various policies and coronavirus,” said the 65-year-old, who on Monday surpassed the record length of service set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato half a century ago.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns for health reasons

Abe’s almost eight years in office have been marked by stable government and a policy mix of aggressive monetary and fiscal stimulus dubbed “Abenomics”.

Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe resigns over health concerns, apologises for leaving amid Covid-19 pandemic

Abe’s resignation ends his run as the country’s longest serving premier. The 65-year-old says he has been struggling with a relapse of his chronic illness Explaining his decision to step down, he says ‘poor health should not lead to wrong political decisions’

Abe’s resignation ends his run as the country’s longest serving premier. The 65-year-old says he has been struggling with a relapse of his chronic illness

Explaining his decision to step down, he says ‘poor health should not lead to wrong political decisions’