Shinzo Abe's sudden resignation informally kicks-off race for new Japanese PM

race for becoming Shizo Abe’s successor informally kick-off on August 29, a day after longest-serving Prime Minister anunced his resignation. Abe’s deteriorating health condition due to a relapse of ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease, forced him to resign from high office but would stay until his party decides on successor.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leer declined to mention any specific names of his possible successor, stressing that he should t push his preference on party. However, outgoing PM said that he would like to see someone on prime ministerial position with a strong vision, sense of responsibility and passion.

Several names for possible successor started doing rounds in local media after Abe’s resignation anuncement, which includes Deputy PM Taro Aso, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, Defense Minister Taro Ko, and Abe’s critic Shigeru Ishiba among ors. While 79-year-old Aso has long been considered as Abe’s successor, he anunced that he will t stand in party elections.

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Possibility for caretaker role

Meanwhile, Fumio Kishida, a former foreign minister considered as Abe’s personal choice for post; and Shigeru Ishiba have alrey thrown ir hats into ring. Yoshihide Suga has been a trusted lieutenant of Abe and has been working as a top government spokesperson. However, Suga was in midst of scandals which could sabot his chances.

successor could also remain in a caretaker role as party will hold leership elections in 2021 ahe of general elections. In such a case, re won’t be a dramatic shift in key policy decisions as ministration is alrey busy mitigating risks of coronavirus pandemic.  Abe failed to introduce amendment of Article 9 of Japanese Constitution, one of his most cherished goals, which is likely to remain unfulfilled in near future irrespective of leership.

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