Japan’s Abe completing his term in question amid health queries
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Tokyo — Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo should be able to serve out the remainder of his term as party leader ending about a year from now, his right-hand man said, after recent hospital visits raised questions about the premier’s health.
Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said in an interview on Thursday that he expects Abe to explain his health condition in a proper way. Abe is scheduled to give his first full news conference since June on Friday at 5pm, at which time he’s expected to discuss his coronavirus policy as well as his own health.
“Of course,” Suga said, when asked whether Abe could withstand another year in a physically demanding job that sometimes requires weeks in a row in parliamentary committees. “He’ll be all right,” he said, adding that he saw no change in Abe’s condition.
Abe has visited Keio University Hospital twice in the past two weeks, telling reporters that he is undergoing tests to maintain his health. Although the government has provided few details, domestic media has said he is actually undergoing treatment for ulcerative colitis, a chronic digestive condition that forced him to step down as premier in 2007.
The yen weakened as much as 0.2% to ¥106.20 against the dollar before paring losses after Suga’s comments were reported. Analysts said the currency could strengthen if Abe were to step down given his Abenomics has helped keep the yen in check since 2013.
Abe’s current term as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ends in September 2021. The party has run the country for most of the past 65 years, and the LDP leader is almost assured of serving as prime minister. Surveys show the party with a commanding lead over a fractured opposition.
Suga has worked closely with Abe since he swept to office a second time in 2012, helping him win six straight national elections. Abe’s health concerns have raised questions about succession in the LDP, with Suga’s name being listed among possible contenders. On Thurday, Suga reiterated his denial that he was planning to run for the post.
The lack of open dissent in the LDP has been one of the reasons Abe has endured to become Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. Some potential candidates may be holding fire while he’s in office, but a large degree of continuity is likely in managing the world’s third-largest economy as it tries ...
Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said in an interview on Thursday that he expects Abe to explain his health condition in a proper way. Abe is scheduled to give his first full news conference since June on Friday at 5pm, at which time he’s expected to discuss his coronavirus policy as well as his own health.
“Of course,” Suga said, when asked whether Abe could withstand another year in a physically demanding job that sometimes requires weeks in a row in parliamentary committees. “He’ll be all right,” he said, adding that he saw no change in Abe’s condition.
Abe has visited Keio University Hospital twice in the past two weeks, telling reporters that he is undergoing tests to maintain his health. Although the government has provided few details, domestic media has said he is actually undergoing treatment for ulcerative colitis, a chronic digestive condition that forced him to step down as premier in 2007.
The yen weakened as much as 0.2% to ¥106.20 against the dollar before paring losses after Suga’s comments were reported. Analysts said the currency could strengthen if Abe were to step down given his Abenomics has helped keep the yen in check since 2013.
Abe’s current term as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ends in September 2021. The party has run the country for most of the past 65 years, and the LDP leader is almost assured of serving as prime minister. Surveys show the party with a commanding lead over a fractured opposition.
Suga has worked closely with Abe since he swept to office a second time in 2012, helping him win six straight national elections. Abe’s health concerns have raised questions about succession in the LDP, with Suga’s name being listed among possible contenders. On Thurday, Suga reiterated his denial that he was planning to run for the post.
The lack of open dissent in the LDP has been one of the reasons Abe has endured to become Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. Some potential candidates may be holding fire while he’s in office, but a large degree of continuity is likely in managing the world’s third-largest economy as it tries ...