Japanese PM Shinzo Abe resigns citing poor health

Japan’s Shinzo Abe on Friday said he was resigning because of poor health, ending a tenure as the country’s longestserving prime minister in which he sought to revive an economy stricken by deflation and push for a stronger military.

His abrupt departure triggers a leadership battle in his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) over the next few weeks. The winner will likely stick to Abe’s reflationary “Abenomics” policies that had mixed results in resuscitating the world’s third-largest economy.

Abe has battled ulcerative colitis for years, and two recent hospital visits within a week had raised questions about whether he could stay on in until his term ends in September next year.

“I cannot continue being prime minister if I do not have the confidence that I can carry out the job entrusted to me by the people,” Abe, 65, told a news conference as he announced his

TOKYO :

decision, often fighting tears.

He said he wanted to avoid a political vacuum as Japan copes with the novel coronavirus. It was the second time Abe has resigned as prime minister because of poor health, the first more than a decade ago.

“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,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined world leaders in praising his leadership. “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,” Modi said in a tweet.

Despite the deepening concerns about his health, news of Abe’s resignation sent tremors through Tokyo financial markets. Japan’s main stock market, which has more than doubled under Abe, fell some 2% before recovering.

Apart from inheriting an economy in the throes of its worst downturn since World War Two, his successor will be left to try and ensure next year’s Olympics - already delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic will go ahead.