The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe has announced his resignation after eight years in power owing to ill health after reports emerged that he had been vomiting blood.
While annoucing his resignation, the 65-year-old Prime Minister said he had encountered a relapse of a chronic bowel condition. He said he had “lost a lot of his energy and strengt”‘ and would require regular medical treatment and that will make it impossible for him to tackle Coronavirus crisis in his country.
While talking during a press conference, he said: “I have been struggling with my illness and I have to get treatment. Poor health should not lead to wrong political decisions.”
Talks about Abe’s health started after he visited a Tokyo hospital severally within one week. Reports also emerged that Abe was vomiting blood as a result of his unpleasant health condition.
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will appoint an interim leader who will act as President pending the time the party will conduct a fresh presidential election.
Candidates that have been tipped to replace Mr. Abe include Taro Aso, the Deputy Prime Minister, and one time Prime Minister; Yoshihide Suga, Abe’s Chief Cabinet Secretary; Shigeru Ishiba, a former Minister of Defense; Fumio Kishida, former Foreign Minister and Taro Kono, the present Foreign Minister.
