Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the decision to resign, RIA Novosti reported referring to Kyodo. Until the election of a successor, he will serve as head of government.

Earlier, the media wrote about the deterioration of the politician's health.

Shinzo Abe has ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammation of the lining of the colon. This disease was the reason for his resignation in 2007. However, his health was then stabilized, and in 2012 he was again elected Prime Minister.