Main image via AP
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It has been reported that Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe has confirmed his resignation, over health issues.
Japan’s national broadcast station, NHK said that Prime Minister Abe intends to resign as his illness has worsened and he worries it will cause trouble.
At a press conference, Prime Minister Abe said that he had suffered a relapse of his illness, ulcerative colitis. He added that since the middle of July his health deteriorated and has lost much of his energy and strength.
He explained that there will be an internal vote held within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to pick a successor. He added that he would like to remain a lawmaker after he hands his position and power to his successor. The party leadership race is tentatively scheduled to be on September 15 this year.
Before the announcement was made, Japanese news media had been speculating about the health of Japan’s Prime Minister recently after he made two separate trips to the hospital in one week.
Shinzo Abe is Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister (since 2006-07)
