Tokyo: Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Shinzō Abe has reportedly decided to resign over health issues.
Abe announced his plan at an emergency meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a senior lawmaker close to the PM, Tomomi Inada told the media.
【最新情報】安倍首相 辞任の意向固める
安倍総理は午後２時頃に総理官邸から自民党本部に向かい、二階幹事長ら幹部に辞意を伝えました。
自民党の臨時役員会で持病である「潰瘍性大腸炎が再発し、悪化するリスクもある」として（続く） pic.twitter.com/ml1W542x4y
— 日テレNEWS NNN (@news24ntv) August 28, 2020
The Liberal Democratic Party’s extraordinary board of directors was quoted as saying by Nippon Television that he had a chronic illness. “There is a risk of recurrent ulcerative colitis and it is worsening.”
However, Inada told reporters Abe will stay in office until a successor is decided, most likely through an election of ruling party lawmakers and members. Senior government officials had suggested that he would serve out the rest of remaining year in office.
The news sent Tokyo stocks plunging more than two per cent, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 index reversing earlier gains.
