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Ear to the Ground

Japanese PM Resigns

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Posted on Sep 12, 2007
Shinzo Abe
AP Photo / David Guttenfelder

Sayonara:  Abe’s party, the Liberal Democrats, said it would hold an election on Sept. 19 to choose a new leader who, given the party’s control of the lower house of Parliament, will automatically become Japan’s next prime minister.

Japan’s unpopular prime minister, Shinzo Abe, abruptly announced on Wednesday that he is stepping down.  While Abe’s resignation sounds like it should be welcome news, given his lack of public and official support, it looks like even his exit strategy has caused controversy.


The New York Times:

Mr. Abe, deeply unpopular, had already been written off by Japan’s political establishment and news media, his political future measured in months. But the resignation’s timing—three days after the start of a parliamentary session—stunned Japan. It drew accusations of irresponsibility from inside and outside his party, and threw the country’s already tense political situation into further disarray.

“In the current situation, it will be quite difficult to forcefully pursue policies based on the people’s support and trust,” Mr. Abe said, seeming at one point on the verge of tears.

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By Enemy of State, September 12, 2007 at 5:17 pm #

Goodbye Abe. We hardly knew you.

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By QuyTran, September 12, 2007 at 12:41 pm #

We really hope that Bush could follow PM Abe’s example.

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By nefertiti, September 12, 2007 at 11:22 am #

That s the beauty of True Democracy , when leaders screw up they do the right thing and resign , unlike our Leaders in the Arab world , scandal after scandal plague them and their families , they read our disgust and our curses on the net (now ) but they remain in power whether we like it or not , most are in their 70s or close .. (many planning to pass the power to their sons , yes even presidents ) i wish the west abandonned the dictators until they truly reformed .

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