Surprise turn in Japan, where the premier Shinzo Abe announced Friday plans to resign for health reasons. "I have decided to leave the post of prime minister, my health started to deteriorate in the middle of last month - said Abe - My current state of health, following the recent checks, does not allow me to concentrate on the more important issues important matters relating to government, which is why I intend to step down. I wouldn't want the disease to affect important political decisions".
However, the outgoing prime minister has assured that he will continue to work "until a successor is found". However, it seems that his deputy, Finance Minister Taro Aso, can assume the office of interim prime minister. In any case, it is certain that one will soon begin succession struggle within the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (Ldp).
Abe, who will turn 66 next month, has suffered from ulcerative colitis since his adolescence which had already forced him to resign in 2005-2006 and in the last week he has returned to hospital twice for check-ups. His step back represents a major political upheaval for Japan, considering that Abe has been in office since 2012 and just this week it became the longest serving leader in Japan's history, surpassing the record set by his great-uncle, Eisaku Sato, half a century ago.
When he became prime minister for the second time eight years ago, Abe said he could control symptoms with drugs that weren't available during his first term.
The news of the resignation pushed the Tokyo Stock Exchange is down. After yielding up to 2,6%, the Nikkei index however, it managed to limit the damage, closing with a fall of 1,4%. The Topix, on the other hand, closes the session in the red by 0,68%.
