An apologetic Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced he will step down after a record seven years and eight months as leader citing ill-health after a recurrence of ulcerative colitis.
Abe announced his resignation in a news conference on Friday, in which he addressed his health after two recent hospital visits. The 65-year-old said he wanted to avoid causing problems to the government because of his worsening condition.
Abe has battled ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week had fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021.
He was quoted as saying that he would like to sincerely apologise to the people of Japan for leaving his post with one year left in his term of office, and amid the coronavirus woes, while various policies are still in the process of being implemented, bowing deeply.
Governing party officials had said Abe’s health is fine but the hospital visits, one lasting more than seven and a half hours, had fuelled rumours about his ability to handle the job with another year before his term expired.
On Monday, Abe marked his 2,799th consecutive day in office since bouncing back to leadership in late 2012 for a second term in office and became Japan’s longest-serving leader, beating a record set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato half a century ago.
But his popularity has fallen to about 30 percent in recent opinion polls over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals among Government officials.
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