Abe in hospital

Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been admitted to hospital, a day after announcing his resignation.

Doctors said Abe was being treated for a stomach complaint probably caused by extreme exhaustion and stress. Japan’s governing party has announced it will choose a successor to Abe on September 23.Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga has said he will stand, but the most likely candidate, former Foreign Minister Taro Aso, has yet to make an announcement.The new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader is guaranteed to become prime minister, because the party controls parliament’s lower house.Abe had been facing growing calls to quit since his party lost upper house elections in July, and opinion polls showed he was increasingly unpopular.But there has also been speculation that health problems were partly behind his decision to step down.”I hear that the doctor diagnosed him as suffering from extreme fatigue,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano told reporters after Abe was admitted to hospital.It is unclear whether he will be able to continue his duties until a successor is chosen, or whether a temporary head of government may have to be appointed.Abe’s decision on Wednesday triggered surprise and criticism.He had defied calls for his resignation in the wake of the disastrous July polls and only two weeks ago reshuffled his Cabinet.But as well as his heatlh problems, Abe said that his decision to step down was based on political realities resulting from the loss of the upper house.The result left the opposition in a position to block key pieces of legislation, such as the extension of Japan’s naval mission in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan.”If I delay my decision to step down, the government will face greater difficulties in parliament,” Abe said.Taro Aso, a former foreign minister who is now the LDP secretary general, is seen as the strongest contender to take over from Abe.Another potential candidate is former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who ran against Abe and Aso for the top job in September 2006.- BBCJapan’s governing party has announced it will choose a successor to Abe on September 23.Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga has said he will stand, but the most likely candidate, former Foreign Minister Taro Aso, has yet to make an announcement.The new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader is guaranteed to become prime minister, because the party controls parliament’s lower house.Abe had been facing growing calls to quit since his party lost upper house elections in July, and opinion polls showed he was increasingly unpopular.But there has also been speculation that health problems were partly behind his decision to step down.”I hear that the doctor diagnosed him as suffering from extreme fatigue,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano told reporters after Abe was admitted to hospital.It is unclear whether he will be able to continue his duties until a successor is chosen, or whether a temporary head of government may have to be appointed.Abe’s decision on Wednesday triggered surprise and criticism.He had defied calls for his resignation in the wake of the disastrous July polls and only two weeks ago reshuffled his Cabinet.But as well as his heatlh problems, Abe said that his decision to step down was based on political realities resulting from the loss of the upper house.The result left the opposition in a position to block key pieces of legislation, such as the extension of Japan’s naval mission in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan.”If I delay my decision to step down, the government will face greater difficulties in parliament,” Abe said.Taro Aso, a former foreign minister who is now the LDP secretary general, is seen as the strongest contender to take over from Abe.Another potential candidate is former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who ran against Abe and Aso for the top job in September 2006.- BBC