AP story here:
Who will be the new PM of Japan? How will this affect US relations? How will this affect Japan’s relations to China, Russia and the Koreas?
There are a slew of politicians eager to replace Abe.
Shigeru Ishiba, a 63-year-old hawkish former defense minister and Abe’s archrival, is a favorite next leader in media surveys, though he is less popular within the governing party. A low-key former foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, Defense Minister Taro Kono, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, and economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of coronavirus measures, are widely mentioned in Japanese media as potential successors.
Abe was often upstaged in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, a former governing party conservative who is seen as a potential prime minister candidate by some. But she would have to first be elected to parliament to be in the running for the top job.
Analysts say no major change of policy is expected whoever succeeds Abe, though Japan may return to an era of short-lived leadership.
Very interesting. No idea what comes next, but I wouldn’t expect big changes in the government’s policies, regardless of who succeeds him.
Here’s CNN’s coverage:
Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving Japanese prime minister in history, has resigned, citing health reasons.
Hope his health improves. 8 years is a good limit to put on any country leader.
Iggy
August 29, 2020, 12:18am
4
He was PM before and had to resign due to the same health condition.
And the first article in the OP referring to it being a “gut wrenching” decision… not sure if he gave a statement in English or it was the translator was having a bit of fun but Abe has ulcerative colitis. really. They chose “gut wrenching” as the English translation!?