SHINZO ABE

Japanese prime minister under fire over suspected cover-up of cronyism 1 References to the premier, his wife Akie, and his finance minister and close ally Taro Aso were removed from finance ministry records of a discounted sale of state-owned land to a school operator with ties to Abe’s wife

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Abe, now in his sixth year in office, has denied he or his wife did favours for the school operator, Moritomo Gakuen, and has said he would resign if evidence to the contrary was found

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The suspected cover-up could dash Abe’s hopes for a third term as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party. If he wins the leadership race, he would be on course to become Japan’s longest-serving premier.