Japan's longest-serving PM Shizo Abe resigns; here's who can take over the top post

On August 28,  longest-serving Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigned due to health issues. This came after Shinzo Abe's visit to hospitals increased in last two weeks giving rise to a flurry of speculations about his declining health. Abe visited Keio University Hospital in Tokyo for second time in a week and spent more than seven hours. However, officials h maintained that it was his regular checkups. Shinzo Abe has  longest uninterrupted stint in office as PM in Japanese history. As he resigned on Friday, he issued an apology to people of Japan but remained tight-lipped on questions about his successor.

On Friday, as  longest-serving Japan's PM Shinzo Abe resigns, here's  all you need to kw: 

Abe's health 

Reports have stated that be suffers from colitis, a n-curable inflammatory bowel disease that causes stomach pain, diarrhea and extreme fatigue. He was forced to resign during his first stint as Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007 due to disease but again became Prime Minister in 2012. Even before recent hospital visits, re h been reports claiming that 65-year old Abe was vomiting blood, and questions were raised over his limited public appearances and decision to avoid holding a press conference to dress criticism of his handling of coronavirus. Finally, it was anunced by Abe in his first press conference since June 18 that he has is resigning. 

What happens w that he has resigned?

Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's tenure will end in September 2021. As he resigns, first scenario is that a minister of state whom he has designated in vance will take over, as per Article 9 of Japan’s cabinet law. However, this law sets limit on how long acting prime minister can stay in office. second scenario is that an election will take place within  Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to replace him as chief, followed by a vote in parliament to elect a new prime minister - who would only hold post till Abe's tenure gets over in 2021.

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Who are in line to succeed Shinzo Abe?

1. Taro Aso: Deputy PM Taro Aso also holds post of finance minister and is considered an Abe loyalist as well as just like Abe - he is Japan's longest-serving finance minister and deputy PM. He is 79-years old and political analysts are of opinion that he will t be given charge for caretaker PM. However, he has h a brief stint at office in 2008-2009, after party voted him to be its president and thus country's Prime Minister. This can also work against him as LDP suffered its historic defeat in 2008 under his leership position paving way for Democratic Party (DPJ) for next three-years.

2. Yoshihide Suga: chief cabinet secretary of Abe, he is believed to have pushed Prime Minister to power in 2012. Abe's trusted lieutenant, he was a top government spokesperson and is a top choice for next PM. However, he was in midst of scandals and two Cabinet ministers close to him were toppled last October.

3. Shigeru Ishiba: Former Defense Minister and an Abe critic, Ishiba, 63, regularly tops voters choice for bring next prime minister, but he is less popular with party’s lawmakers. He h defeated Abe in first round of a party presidential election in 2012,  but lost in second round of vote. In a 2018 party leership poll, Ishiba lost heavily to Abe.

4. Taro Ko: Defense Minister Taro Ko who is 56-year old has backed Abe in his key decisions. including a stern stance in a feud with South Korea over wartime history. He has also served as a foreign minister and minister for ministrative reform.

5. Shinjiro Koizumi:  son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, 39-year-old Shinjiro Koizumi is environment minister and is floated as a future leer of party but t an immediate successor. 

6. Fumio Kishida: This 63-year old former foreign minister (2012 to 2017), has been widely seen as Abe’s preferred successor. However, this low-key lawmaker from Hiroshima Prefecture has t been popular among voters.

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How is Japan's PM elected?

national parliament of Japan is called Diet. Diet is divided into an upper house ( House of Councillors) and a lower house ( House of Representatives). House of Representatives elects a prime minister from among mselves by majority vote thus, prime minister is usually a leer of majority party. House of Representatives in Japan has 465 members, who are elected for a four-year term. Currently, lower house has 284 members of LDP and 29 of ally-Komeito. Thus, it becomes crucial to see who will be selected as LDP chief.

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