Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resign on Friday citing health reasons. Abe said he is suffering a recurrence of the ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory bowel disease) and his condition had worsened recently.
“Now that I am not able to fulfil the mandate from the people with confidence, I have decided that I should no longer occupy the position of the prime minister,” he said.
He said he did not want his illness to get in the way of decision making and apologised to the Japanese people.
“I would like to sincerely apologise to the people of Japan for leaving my post with one year left in my term of office, and amid the coronavirus woes, while various policies are still in the process of being implemented,” he said.
Last year, he became Japan’s longest serving prime minister. His current period in office began in 2012.
Abe said he would “firmly execute” his duty to the end until the next prime minister is appointed, a process that is expected to require a leadership election involving ruling party lawmakers and members.
Abe has reputation of a staunch conservative and nationalist, and known for stimulating growth with his aggressive economic policy known as “Abenomics”.
