Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister and the scion of a political dynasty, abruptly resigned on Friday due to ill health, panicking markets and leaving a long list of contenders jockeying for power.
Mr Abe's decision, announced at a media conference in Tokyo, came after two visits to hospital in recent weeks and reports he had been coughing up blood. The 65-year-old has battled ulcerative colitis, or chronic inflammation of the bowel, for most of his adult life.
Loading...
Reuters
Angus Grigg is an investigative reporter based in Sydney. He has worked as a foreign correpondent in China and Indonesia, and has won two Walkley Awards. Connect with Angus on Twitter. Email Angus at agrigg@afr.com
