Longest serving Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to step down
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to resign for health reasons. He is to announce his resignation at a press conference today.
Amid the prolonged fight against the coronavirus, Abe decided it would be difficult to lead during this challenging situation while battling with poor health.
Abe is Japan's longest-serving prime minister but his administration will come to an end.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will choose a successor.
LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and former LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba have wide support in the party.
He decided to resign due to the deterioration of his health.
Abe, who is also president of the LDP, returned to power in December 2012 when the party won an overwhelming victory in the House of Representatives elections, following about three years in opposition.
While promoting his Abenomics economic policy, Abe has made a series of achievements in foreign and security policies on the basis of the Japan-US relationship.
Copyright: The Japan News/ Asia News Network
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