by Hiroshi HiyamaSeptember 24, 2007
TOKYO (AFP) - A visibly weak Shinzo Abe on Monday bowed out as Japan's premier with an apology for his abrupt resignation as he made his first public appearance since checking into a hospital 11 days ago.
Abe, who relinquishes the premiership on Tuesday to veteran lawmaker Yasuo Fukuda, spoke in a slow, frail voice at a nationally televised news conference at his hospital as two doctors in white coats sat next to him.
"I would like to deeply apologise to the people for causing trouble to them," he said, staring down at a written statement. "I regret that I couldn't meet people's expectations."
Abe, who has lost five kilograms (11 pounds) in recent months, acknowledged his resignation "came at the worst possible time" just after he had vowed before parliament to stay in office.
An outspoken conservative, he took office one year ago as the bright new hope for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
But he resigned abruptly on September 12 amid a string of scandals, sliding approval ratings and opposition refusal to extend a naval mission supporting US-led forces in Afghanistan.
He checked into hospital the next day, where doctors said he was suffering gastrointestinal inflammation due to severe stress and exhaustion.
Abe said he should have explained at the time that he was quitting due to his health. He had instead cited the opposition's refusal to meet him over his plans to extend the naval mission.
"I should have spoken clearly about my condition," added Abe, who said he hoped to be discharged soon and at least leave temporarily for Tuesday's parliament session installing Fukuda.
Fukuda and his wife, Kiyoko, later paid a brief visit to Abe at his hospital.
"My condition had been worsening for the past month and I felt that my health had reached a limit," Abe said. "Under these conditions I couldn't fulfil my responsibilities, so that is why I reached the conclusion to resign."
Abe has faced a storm of criticism over the timing of his resignation, with even Fukuda saying he should have quit after a big election defeat in July.
At 71, Fukuda is nearly a generation older than the 53-year-old Abe, who was faulted by many as being inexperienced.
A veteran behind-the-scenes operator who admits he lacks charisma, Fukuda holds more centrist views than Abe on issues ranging from North Korea to wartime history, a frequent source of tension with China and South Korea.
Fukuda on Monday appointed a new, more moderate leadership for the ruling LDP.
He warned of tough times ahead for the party, which lost control of the upper house of parliament in July elections for the first time since the party was created in 1955.
"We have to restore trust in politics," Fukuda said. "Unless everybody takes firm action, it will be difficult for us to get through the current circumstances."
The opposition has not budged on the Afghanistan mission and has vowed to press Fukuda to call snap general elections.
Fukuda removed Taro Aso, the hawkish former foreign minister, from the position of LDP secretary general, the number two position in the party after the premier himself.
Aso had challenged Fukuda for the top job. Abe declined to say whom he had backed in Sunday's party vote but dismissed speculation Aso had forced him out in a "coup d'etat."
Fukuda replaced Aso with outgoing Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki, a 69-year-old party elder.
He also gave former finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki -- who had challenged Abe for the premiership last year, arguing that he was too right-wing -- the influential position of policy chief for the ruling party.
"We have to continue reforms in the future, but we also have to take measures for those who feel they are left behind," Tanigaki said.
The LDP was crushed in the July elections in part due to a backlash from voters in the countryside, who feel they have not benefited from a recovery in the world's second largest economy.
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