(Image source from: kyodonews.net)

PM Shinzo Abe apologized to the Japanese People for not being able to complete his term in the office.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced his resignation citing health reasons. He said that he did not want his ill health to get in the middle of decision making and apologized to the Japanese people for not being able to complete his term as the Prime Minister.

The 65-year-old Prime Minister has been suffering from ulcerative colitis for several years now. The disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that has worsened lately in the case of Shinzo Abe.

It was just last year that he became Japan’s longest serving Prime Minister. He was elected as the prime minister in the year 2012.

A brief of Shizo Abe’s Legacy

Shinzo Abe has strengthened the Japan’s defenses and boosted military spending during his stint as the prime minister.

In 2007, he resigned without prior notice from his earlier term as the PM because of his struggles with the ulcerative colitis.

Shinzo Abe has been suffering with this disease since he was a teenager.

Mr. Abe has staunch conservative gained the reputation of a staunch conservative and nationalist for his stimulating growth and aggressive economic policy which is popularly known as Abenomics.

Abenomics is the set of reforms that Shizo Abe came up with after he was elected as the PM in 2012.

However, recently Shinzo Abe said that his health started deteriorating since mid July this year. He is now receiving a new treatment for the condition which would not allow him enough time to proceed with this office chores.

He expressed regret for not fulfilling his promises like forcing North Korea to return Japanese citizens who were abducted years ago, sorting out a territorial dispute with Russia and convincing the constitution to give more power to Japan’s military.

What happens now?

Mr. Abe said that he would firmly execute his duties as the Prime Minister till he finds the right replacement.

His announcement of resignation has already triggered a vote within his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to replace him as the leader.

On the next Tuesday, the party will decide on how to hold an election according to the Kyodo news.

This election will be followed by a parliamentary vote to decide the next Prime Minister.

However, potential successors have already emerged. Those include deputy prime minister Taro Aso, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and LDP’s Policy Chief Fumio Kishida.

None of them are expected to deviate from the current policies of the government.

The winner in the election or voting process will be served as the Prime Minister till the end of Shinzo Abe’s term which is September 2021.

By Gayatri Yellayi