And here begins a thread on Abe's resignation presser....
First to business, laying out the government's plans for combating Covid-19 as flu season approaches.
In classic Abe fashion, he's speaking a bit on the fast side.
Now, moving on to the fact that his government was in the process of drafting 1) a new national security strategy, 2) a new NDPG, 3) debating counterstrike capabilities.
Now his physical condition...
I wish there was more to say. I guess the most important thing is that he is resigning and not invoking the line of succession, yielding to an acting PM while he tries to recover.
Which means we get an LDP election in September. YAY.
"No comment" on who should succeed him.
Yomiuri reporter asks about his legacy. Rebuilding Tohoku, employment gains from Abenomics, working styles reform, collective self-defense...
Thanks the public for support in his elections (six wins), feels a heavy responsibility for no peace treaty with Russia, no constitutional revision.
Kishida might want to get that book out.
Apologies to anyone emailing me while watching this, trying to get caught up.
His voice actually catches talking about the abductees and his efforts to bring them home.
Interesting question about what influence Abe could wield after he leaves the premiership...
I guess the oped I published with the @japantimes on Monday has turned out to be a political obit after all: japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/0…
To say nothing of the book...that...was...published...this...week.
One does get the sense of a bit of a burden lifted. To some extent, his fight is over.
I'm about to do a radio interview so my attention is elsewhere, but it sounds like they're really reviewing his entire tenure. If that's what you're looking for, have I got a book for you? observingjapan.com/book/
I'm back: they're really digging deep on his government. A question on his media strategy?!?
