Shinzo Abe shooting: A look at the political journey of former Japan PM

Shinzo Abe was the Prime Minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020. During this time, he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a good equation. PM Modi referred to him as his friend on several occasions.

Shinzo Abe also remained the President of the Liberal Democratic Party twice.

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Abe was the longest serving prime minister of Japan. In his illustrious career, he also held the crucial posts of Chief Cabinet Secretary and leader of the opposition. Abe’s career in public life began in 1993 when he was elected to the House of Representatives.

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In September 2005, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi appointed him as the Chief Cabinet Secretary. He replaced him as the prime minister and the party’s president a year later.

He was the youngest post world-war prime minister of Japan. He had to resign due to a medical condition a year later. He brought political stability in Japan in 2022 when he scored a landslide victory. Before that, five prime ministers couldn’t even complete 16 months at office. 

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Shinzo Abe repeated the 2012 performance in 2017, as he led his party to another landslide win. He became the longest serving prime minister in 2020. 

In August 2020, Shinzo Abe had to resign as the prime minister of Japan due to ulcerative colitis.

Shinzo Abe was known to be a conservative by political ideology. He had been described by commentators as a right-wing Japanese nationalist. He was a member of Nippon Kaigi, a group that denies several key aspects of Japanese history, including the recruitment of ‘comfort women’ during World War 2. 

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Shinzo Abe came from a wealthy political family. His father was a foreign minister. His great-uncle was also Japan’s prime minister. 

On Friday, former Japan PM Shinzo Abe was shot at in western Japan, reported Japan-based media house NHK. He was rushed to the hospital, where he reportedly showed “no vital signs.”

Also read: Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe shot, shows ‘no vital signs’

Abe collapsed and was bleeding after apparently being shot during a campaign speech in western Japan, NHK public television said Friday.

NHK says Abe was bleeding when he collapsed and was rushed to a hospital.

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Witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the apparent attack in Nara. He was standing while making an election campaign speech ahead of Sunday’s election for the parliament’s upper house.