TOKYO — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's abrupt announcement Wednesday that he will step down sent shock waves through the nation's political circles, even among lawmakers of his Liberal Democratic Party. Opposition executives criticized the decision by saying it shows Abe lacks a sense of responsibility, as the announcement came shortly after he attended a key summit abroad and only two days after he presented policies to pursue in a policy speech delivered at the Diet.
Ichiro Ozawa, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, told reporters that during his career as a politician he has "never heard" of a prime minister stepping down immediately after delivering a policy speech at the Diet. LDP Diet Affairs Committee chief Tadamori Oshima told a meeting of party lawmakers, "It's regrettable the prime minister has decided to resign. I offered my opinions to him but he said he would not change his mind."
An executive of an LDP faction loyal to education minister Bummei Ibuki said, "That's ridiculous. I can't understand why he decided to resign at this period of time." One former Cabinet minister termed Abe's resignation as a reflection of "his immaturity because of his youth."
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