Shinzo Abe’s surprise hospital visit has led to growing speculation about his political future as rivals manoeuvre for the chance to succeed Japan’s longest serving prime minister.
Officials insist that Mr Abe’s daylong visit to Keio University Hospital on Monday was for a routine medical check-up, but it has added to concerns about his passive response to the Covid-19 outbreak in Japan.
Even if the health scare comes to nothing, Mr Abe has only a year left of his final term as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic party, turning the spotlight on potential successors such as Fumio Kishida and Shigeru Ishiba, both former ministers and leaders of party factions.
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