Japan’s prime minister to resign for health reasons

Tokyo, Aug 28 (efe-epa).- The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, said Friday that he intends to resign to prevent national politics from being affected by a deterioration in his health, according to the public television station NHK.

Speculation about Abe’s health status had intensified recently following the prime minister’s recent visits to a hospital in the capital and some reports of health problems.

It is unknown when the resignation will take place. Abe’s tterm as leader of the ruling party, and head of the government, ends in September 2021.

The information was also confirmed to the local Kyodo agency by sources from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (PLD).

It is expected that Abe himself will explain these intentions in a press conference at 5.00 pm local time (08.00 GMT). Before that appearance with journalists, Abe was meeting with PLD leaders, according to NHK.

Abe visited a hospital Aug. 17 and Monday for medical check-ups, but his spokesmen insisted they were not serious complications and said he was in good health.

The Japanese media, however, recalled that Abe’s first term as prime minister, between 2006 and 2007, ended with health complications caused by chronic ulcerative colitis that he suffered at the time. EFE-EPA

mra-ag-yk/lds