Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 65, resigned yesterday, national broadcaster NHK said, adding that he wanted to avoid causing problems to government due to a worsening of his chronic health condition.
Earlier this week, he became Japan’s longest continuously serving prime minister, after taking office in 2012.
He has lived with his struggles with ulcerative colitis, a chronic condition affecting the large intestine since he was a teenager.
Two hospital visits in one week sparked questions about whether PM Abe’s health was deteriorating. He had been due to serve until September 2021.
Officials from his governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have previously dismissed speculation that he would step down, saying the prime minister’s health is fine.
Akira Amari, head of the LDP’s tax panel, dismissed the suggestion that the prime minister would dissolve parliament’s lower house for a snap general election soon.
“There won’t be a snap election for the time being,” he said.
Under Japanese law, an acting prime minister would step in temporarily if PM Abe were unable to perform his role. Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is also finance minister, is first in line, followed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
Having visited Japan several times as Gujarat CM, Narendra Modi as PM chose Japan for his first bilateral visit outside the neighbourhood, in September 2014. Modi and Abe agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to “Special Strategic and Global Partnership”. The relationship grew and encompassed issues from civilian nuclear energy to maritime security, bullet trains to quality infrastructure, Act East policy to Indo-Pacific strategy.
On Friday, after Abe announced his decision to step down, Modi tweeted: “Pained to hear about your Ill health, My dear friend @AbeShinzo. In recent years, with your wise leadership and personal commitment, the India-Japan partnership has become deeper and stronger than ever before. I wish and pray for your speedy recovery.”
Prachi Vyas
