Thread by @LCuliberg

So what exactly is going on in Japan? 🇯🇵 According to the latest news, former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō is in critical condition after being shot during a political speech in Nara. #ShinzoAbe
twitter.com/i/events/15452…

According to Kyodo News Abe is showing no vital signs after being shot by a gunman while campaigning for the weekend's House of Councillors election. Abe was shot from behind at around 11:30 a.m. while he was speaking in front of a railway station. (Kyodo News)

Abe Shinzō, who resigned as PM in 2020 is Japan's longest-serving prime minister was probably most known for his economic policies called "Abenomics" designed to lift the economy out of deflation. #ShinzoAbe #Abenomics

According to Reuters, Abe boosted defence spending and has strained relations with China. He pushed the passage of laws to let Japan exercise the right of "collective self-defence", contrary to the provisions of the Japanese Constitution. reuters.com/world/asia-pac…

The 41-year-old suspect, who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, says that he has "no grudge against Abe's political beliefs."

https://twitter.com/nhk_news/status/1545305021692235776?s=20&t=i4aTzLg_zyMzazDpiR02AQ

As a PM Abe was pushing for a conservatve agenda, his priority being a revision of the Japanese "Peace Constitution" (denying Japan the right to wage war and to possess armed forces) which remains a contentious goal in Japan. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9…

So, according to Reuters, "Abe's underlying agenda was to escape what he called the post-war regime, a legacy of U.S. occupation that conservatives argue deprived Japan of national pride. Reforming the education system to restore traditional mores was another of his goals."

"He also adopted a less apologetic stance towards Japan's World War Two actions, saying future generations should not have to keep apologising for the mistakes of the past." (Reuters) reuters.com/world/asia-pac…