Abe Shows Eagerness to Win 3rd Term as LDP Pres.

June 18, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe showed his eagerness on Saturday to secure a third term as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

"There are still many tasks I should accomplish," Abe said on television, citing North Korean issues, including the problem of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang decades ago.

"I strongly feel that it's my responsibility to resolve these issues," the prime minister said.

At the same time, Abe said he has not completely made up his mind to run in the LDP's leadership election in September.

He said he will announce his decision "around the time when the buzzing of the cicadas gets noisy," possibly in late July.

Abe's second term as LDP president is set to end in September. The LDP's leader is effectively assured of becoming prime minister because of the party's parliamentary majority.

He clearly denied his intention to step down to take responsibility for favoritism scandals involving school operators Moritomo Gakuen and Kake Educational Institution.

When asked about a potential successor to himself, Abe said, "That's still something far in the future and I'm now preoccupied with how I should get through the ongoing parliamentary session." Jiji Press