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WORLD / Abe Resigns
Abe?treated for exhaustion
(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-13 15:09
Tokyo?- Japan's prime minister was treated at a hospital for exhaustion
Thursday, a day after he announced he would quit amid failure at the
ballot box and a political brawl over the country's aid to US-led
coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference at his
official residence in Tokyo September 12, 2007. [Agencies]
Results of a medical examination will determine whether Shinzo Abe, 52,
will remain in the hospital, said Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano.
National broadcaster NHK reported later that Abe had been hospitalized
following the examination, but officials at the prime minister's office
said they could not immediately confirm the report.
"His doctor determined that his fatigue level has reached its peak, so I
think that the doctor concluded that he needed to be examined at a
well-equipped hospital," Yosano said.
Abe surprised members of his party and even his own Cabinet on Wednesday
by deciding to resign only days after he pledged to stake his government
on the success of legislation to extend a naval mission providing fuel
for coalition warships in the Indian Ocean.
Abe, whose government was severely damaged by a string of scandals and
his party's loss of control of the upper house of parliament in July
elections, said someone more politically viable should shepherd the
Afghan measure that the opposition is trying to scuttle.
"I decided a quick decision was necessary, and that a further delay would
cause political confusion," he said during a nationally televised news
conference. "I find myself unable to keep my promises?- I myself have
become an obstacle to fulfilling those promises."
Yosano had said medical problems contributed to Abe's decision. He said
Abe had been receiving regular checkups from his personal doctor since
returning from a regional meeting in Australia earlier this week, but
refused to reveal further details.
Abe, the country's youngest postwar prime minister, listed the election
defeat and an opposition leader's refusal to meet with him earlier in the
day as signs that he could no longer lead.
It was clear, however, that Abe's unpopular government had become a
liability for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which is facing
increasing calls from the resurgent opposition to hold early elections
for the powerful lower house of parliament.
Four of Abe's Cabinet ministers have resigned in scandals, including one
who quit this month just a week after being appointed. An agriculture
minister committed suicide over a money scandal in May.
"It appears Abe finally cracked under the psychological pressure," said
Eiken Itagaki, a political analyst. "He stalled in trying to save his
government after the election defeat, and now time has run out."
Abe, whose support ratings in opinion polls had sagged to about 30
percent, did not announce a date for his departure.
The Liberal Democratic Party said it would use a streamlined election
process to choose his successor as party president, reportedly on Sept.
19. The party leader is guaranteed election as prime minister because the
party controls parliament's lower house.
The front-runner to replace Abe, former foreign minister and fellow
conservative Taro Aso, was expected to announce his candidacy later
Thursday.
But calls for snap election for the powerful lower house of parliament,
which chooses the prime minister, gathered steam Thursday amid the
confusion.
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