Flanked by two white-coated doctors, Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologised on Monday for the upheaval created by his resignation in his first public appearance since he entered hospital. He spoke in a slow, frail voice, staring down at a written statement as the doctors sat by his side at the live televised press conference.
"I would like to deeply apologise to the people for causing trouble to them," he said. "I regret that I couldn't meet people's expectations." Abe abruptly resigned on September 12 amid a string of scandals embroiling his cabinet and sliding popularity ratings.
He checked into a Tokyo hospital the next day, where doctors said he was suffering gastrointestinal problems caused by extreme fatigue and stress. On Sunday the ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected his successor, Yasuo Fukuda, who is almost certain to be confirmed by parliament Tuesday.
Abe said he should have explained at the time that he was resigning due to his health. Then, he cited the opposition's refusal to meet him over his plans to extend a naval mission supporting US-led forces in Afghanistan. "I should have spoken clearly about my condition," added Abe, who said he hoped to be discharged soon.
"My condition had been worsening for the past month and I felt that my health had reached a limit. Under these conditions I couldn't fulfil my responsibilities, so that is why I reached the conclusion to resign." My resignation came at time as I had delivered a policy speech, so this held up national politics," Abe said.
He 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. Formal apologies are a time-honoured tradition in Japan, where politicians and business leaders are expected to say they are sorry for major setbacks or scandals.
Abe congratulated Fukuda and promised to support him, but declined to say whether he had voted for him or rival Taro Aso in the two-way party leadership election.
He denied speculation, brought up in a question by a reporter, that Aso - who had been the party's number two - had mounted a "coup d'etat" against him, reiterating that he resigned over his health. On his condition, he said he was able to eat again and hoped to be out of hospital, at least temporarily, to attend Tuesday's parliamentary session that will appoint Fukuda. "I want to be discharged as soon as possible," he said. A doctor said that Abe's weight remained five kilograms (11 pounds) below the usual.
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