Abe, leader of the world’s third-largest economy, has now served 2,799 consecutive days as prime minister – ahead of the previous record set by his great-uncle, Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, who resigned in 1972. .
The prime minister gave brief remarks to reporters after he left the hospital on Monday. He did not say what worried him, but showed support for “those who supported me, even in very difficult times.”
“Today I learned more about last week’s test, and I took an extra test. While I look after my health, I want to do my best in my job. I’ll tackle the case over the extra test (in the future ), “he said, without indicating what test he actually took.
Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the visit on Monday was a follow-up to a check last week and has seen “no notable change” from Abe.
It is unclear exactly how serious the concerns are about Abe, but many in his inner circle said that medication is keeping an eye on his condition. As a leader, he has been instrumental in reviving the country’s stagnant economy, although major problems such as massive government debt and an aging population weigh heavily.
But last week marked the first time that Abe’s health had become a talking point in Japanese politics in years. He has already faced criticism for his handling of the country’s coronavirus outbreak, and has seen support among voters drop, adding to speculation he could resign after reaching Monday’s milestone.
Abe spent more than six hours last week in a Tokyo hospital for what a source close to the prime minister described as “persistent bowel disease.” The individual spoke on condition of anonymity because that person was not authorized to speak officially about Abe’s health. CNN has reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office for comment.
The coronavirus crisis in Japan
Although there have been no direct comments from the government that Abe’s latest health problems could force him to step down, his handling of the pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis have given his political opponents an opening.
Cases of Covid-19 have been rising throughout Japan since mid-July. While government officials and doctors say the higher caseload is the result of more testing, they also said the rise in the number of critically ill people is one of the fastest growing societies in the world.
Public opinion about Abe’s treatment of coronavirus outbreaks and the accompanying economic downturn has also been disturbed. A poll by Mainichi, one of Japan’s largest newspapers, found that 58.4% of people were dissatisfied with Abe’s treatment of the pandemic. His rating dropped to 36%, the lowest it has been since Abe took office for the second time in 2012.
Abe’s rivers and opposition parties are joking for position in the prime minister’s view because of his handling of the virus and the deepening of the recession. Political analysts say Abe’s health has added another layer of uncertainty and urgency about his future.
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