Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spent his 53rd birthday in hospital on Friday, regretting his political demise days before he is voted out of office.
As time moves on, "many people will come to understand how much the prime minister regrets leaving the post this way", the government's top spokesperson, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano, told reporters.
Abe, who has been Japan's youngest prime minister in recent times, resigned abruptly last week after a series of scandals embroiling his cabinet.
He promptly checked into a Tokyo hospital where doctors say he is suffering gastrointestinal problems caused by extreme fatigue and stress.
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| Abe's successor is widely expected to be Yasuo Fukuda |
Abe's successor as leader of the governing Liberal Democrat Party will be chosen on Sunday. Given its control of the lower house of parliament, the winner will also become prime minister of the world's second biggest economy.
The outgoing premier however is not certain to be able to attend Sunday's vote, Yosano said.
Abe's successor is widely expected to be Yasuo Fukuda, a moderate and party veteran aged 71.
A twice-a-week cabinet meeting was called off Friday due to Abe's absence and was downgraded to an informal talk of cabinet ministers, Yosano added.
He said the birthday was not brought up at the meeting.
| Friday is in stark contrast to Abe's last birthday |
"You don't look forward to your birthday when you get to a certain age," he added. "Since Prime Minister Abe is still in his 50s, however, his birthday is a congratulatory event."
Friday is in stark contrast to Abe's last birthday, when he was gearing up to be the nation's first premier to be born after World War II. The outspoken conservative was elected five days after turning 52. - Sapa-AFP
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