Image Source: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe takes off his mask at the start of a news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, August 28, 2020. (Franck Robichon/Pool via Reuters)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 66, resigned on Friday citing concerns about his health. The announcement comes just days after he visited at least two hospitals a week. Abe recently became Japan's longest-serving leader, breaking the record for spending the highest number of office days previously set by his great uncle, Eisaku Sato, who served as Japanese Prime Minister from 1964 to 1972.
Negotiations about Abe's health and his ability to hold public office have been going on for months, but the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has tried to put an end to them as baseless rumors, stressing that Abe will be able to complete his term scheduled for next September.
Why has Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe resigned?
According to local news reports, Abe suffers from ulcerative colitis, a chronic health condition that he had lived with since he was a child, but which has only recently worsened. During his first term as Prime Minister, Abe resigned in 2007, only one year after taking office.
At the time, political observers had suggested that Abe's abrupt resignation was a combination of foreign and domestic issues, including political rivalries in Japan over support for the American invasion of Afghanistan. Inside, a few of Abe's political candidates were deeply embroiled in political scandals and his political party, the Liberal Democratic Party, also saw a landslide defeat.
However, over the years, observers have said that in addition to these challenges, Abe's health condition had also influenced his decision to resign and pointed to a statement the leader made in 2007, admitting he was "tired".
Earlier this week, Abe's political allies and party representatives insisted that the prime minister would complete his term in office next year. Yoshihide Suga, a government spokesman, also said there was no indication that the prime minister was unwell.
In an interview with Reuters, the party's chief executive and Abe ally, Akira Amari, said the prime minister appeared to be healthier a few months ago, adding that "Abe's voice was stronger" and "the color returned to his skin", indicating that this may be the case. the leader was "mentally exhausted".
Image Source: Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, resigned because a chronic illness has resurfaced. (AP/PTI Photo)
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What has Shinzo Abe’s tenure been like?
Abe has been a strong and influential politician and is known for his nationalist policies, especially his tendency to review history. These views have been reflected in Abe's domestic and foreign policy decisions most of his time since he became prime minister in 2012, but especially in the face of Japanese colonial history, and especially in his role of sexual exploitation during war, violence and the enslavement of 'comfort women' in Korea and elsewhere in East and Southeast Asia.
Abe's time will be marked mainly by his aggressive economic policies known as 'Abenomics' which focused on revitalizing the Japanese economy and integrated real estate reform, cuts and increases spending, with the aim of increasing domestic demand.
Among his foreign policy plans, Abe is known for traveling to North Korea with a strong stance. In 2014, Abe began focusing on building ties between Japan and ASEAN, India, Australia. Some observers believe that these foreign policy measures were an attempt to end China's influence in the region, as well as its obligations against South Korea over a number of regional and international disputes. As an example of forming relations with India, Abe became the first Japanese prime minister to attend the India's Day exhibition as a guest of honor during the time of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Image Source: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Shinzo Abe in New Delhi in 2015. (Express Photo: Renuka Puri)
Without a doubt about China's growing influence, after 2014, Abe appeared and tried to build a relationship with Beijing by meeting with Xi Jingping and later announced that he had proposed the establishment of a telephone number between Tokyo and Beijing to discuss and try to resolve such issues. like maritime conflicts.
Recently, Abe's management of the coronavirus epidemic in Japan has been closely monitored, especially following a sharp increase in infections. The epidemic also affected Japan's ability to host the 2020 Olympics postponed to the summer of 2021. Many of the nation's plans to continue hosting the Olympics next year depend on the availability of a coronavirus vaccine during next year's games.
For Abe, and other senior officials from the Japanese government, Tokyo, the host country for the Olympics, was a source of pride, and the amount of investment the country had invested in hosting the games, and it was not easy to see it postponed. Most of Abe's own political image also depended on his government's ability to produce a successful show.
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What have Abe’s policies been regarding Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution?
Although Abe has taken a number of policy decisions regarding security and safety building, one of the most striking steps has been his efforts to reform and revise Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution resulted in the violence of World War II and came into effect in May 1947. This law, enacted by the United States, reads: “We sincerely wish for world peace based on justice and order, the use of force as a means of resolving international disputes. ”
That means that, under the provisions of this section of the law, Japan is not allowed to keep the army, air force or navy for anything other than self-defense. The country has a Defense Force, some critics believe it operates as a defacto military. Currently, Japan has the largest defense budget in the world.
Image Source: The pandemic impacted Japan’s ability to host the 2020 Olympics that was postponed to the summer of 2021. (AP Photo: Ivan Fernandez, File)
The revision of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution has been one of Abe's most pressing goals during his time but he has not been able to achieve them. Abe and his political party made it clear that they wanted to review the clause and did so, in July 2014, Abe violated Japanese law and allowed the duplication of Article 9 of the Constitution to give more power to the Self-Defense Forces. The move came as a surprise, with US approval, which shocked its neighbors, South Korea, North Korea and China, who opposed the move.
That is not to say that Abe's efforts have found support even within Japan. Some citizens and politicians have criticized Abe's plans, calling them unconstitutional, claiming that Abe deliberately violated constitutional amendment procedures to achieve his political goals.
What happens next?
According to the BBC, after Abe's resignation, under the terms of Japanese law, the acting prime minister will intervene and there will be no time limit for how long the acting prime minister will hold office. Abe will be replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is also Japan's finance minister. Next in line will be Cabinet Secretary General Yoshihide Suga.
The acting prime minister has a limited amount of power. Once, the BBC reports that they are unable to call a snap election. Until a new leader is elected, the acting prime minister will have power over budgets and agreements. Within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, with Abe its president, his resignation could lead to an election to elect a new party leader. It is this election that will create a parliamentary vote to elect a new Prime Minister who will serve until September 2021, which was the last day of Abe's administration.
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