Abe’s Right-Hand Man Seeks to Succeed Him in Japan, Reports Say
- Ruling party may pick Abe successor on Sept. 15, Kyodo says
- Abe said on Friday he would step down for health reasons
This article is for subscribers only.
The man who supported Japan’s Shinzo Abe throughout his record-breaking tenure as prime minister, is set to enter the race to succeed him, the Yomiuri and Asahi newspapers said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga may announce his intentions on whether he’ll seek to step into his ailing boss’s shoes after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party decides Tuesday on the procedure for picking a new leader, Kyodo News reported. If Suga decides to run, he would be considered among the top choices to replace Abe, who announced his resignation on Friday, citing a flare-up of a chronic health condition.