icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
14 Sep, 2020 07:20

Abe’s ‘loyal right-hand man’ Yoshihide Suga chosen by ruling party to succeed him as Japan’s PM

Abe’s ‘loyal right-hand man’ Yoshihide Suga chosen by ruling party to succeed him as Japan’s PM

A top Japanese government official, Yoshihide Suga, has been selected to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Having led Japan since 2012, Abe is stepping down for health reasons.

According to the Japan Times, the new ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader is expected to become the new PM because the party holds a comfortable majority in the lower house of parliament.

Suga said that the government needs to "inherit and facilitate policies promoted by Prime Minister Abe."

"I recognize that I carry that mission," he added.

Suga, 71, has served as chief cabinet secretary since 2012. In this position, he acted as the country's top government spokesperson, among other roles. He was described by Japanese the media as Abe's longtime ally and "loyal right-hand man."

Abe has been Japan's leader for eight years and is the nation's longest continuously serving prime minister. He announced his plans to resign due to health problems on August 28.  

Also on rt.com Shinzo Abe was an important world leader and leaves big shoes to fill

Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!

Podcasts
0:00
23:13
0:00
25:0