Photo: ODT filesJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ended weeks of speculation about the state of his health by announcing his surprise resignation last week. This person will then be confirmed as prime minister by a vote in the Diet. Fumio Kishida, the LDP policy council chief and former foreign minister, is widely considered to be favoured by Abe as his replacement. Japan’s next prime minister will also soon face the judgement of the electorate, as the next national election is due by October 2021. The end of this patrician era of conservative politics has dramatically brought Japanese politics into an suddenly uncertain future.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 31, 2020 15:33 UTC