Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns from office citing personal health reasons

Update: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has formally confirmed his resignation and anunced that he will be stepping down effective immediately, citing personal health reasons. In his final speech as PM, he said, 'I want to send my apology to people, as I step down as Prime Minister, re is guarantee that my health gets better.'

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to resign amid personal health issues, local media outlets reported on Friday. reports ded that he wanted to avoid causing problems to government due to a worsening of his chronic health condition.

Questions about Abe's health have been swirling since he me a previously unanunced visit to a hospital for medical checks on August 17, and n returned for furr checks a week later, on Monday. Reports have also said that he will dress a press conference later on Friday to dress speculations.

'I'm making sure I'm in good health'

On Monday, he surpassed a record for longest consecutive tenure as Prime Minister set by his great-uncle Eisaku Sato half a century ago. Abe later told reporters that he revisited hospital “to get detailed results from last week's checkup and have ditional examination.” “I'm making sure I'm in good health, and I plan to keep working hard,” Abe said, ding that he will explain his health later. 

Abe has ackwledged having ulcerative colitis since he was a teenr and said condition has been under control. He has t me clear if it is related to his recent health issues or hospital visits.

'I haven't ticed anything different'

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, at a regular news conference earlier on Monday, brushed off worries about Abe's health. “I see him every day, but I haven't ticed anything different," he said. Asked if Abe will be able to serve ar year until his current term ends in September 2021, Suga said Prime Minister is undergoing ditional health exams to make sure he will be able to do so. 

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Meanwhile, his support ratings have plunged to ir lowest levels due to his handling of Coronavirus pandemic and its severe impact on ecomy, on top of a slew of political scandals.

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(With ncy inputs)