Shinzo Abe's entire Cabinet resigns ahead of Yoshihide Suga assuming office as Japan's new PM

The entire Cabinet of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe submitted their resignations as Yoshihide Suga is set to assume office as Japan's new Prime Minister today, i.e. September 16.

According to a report by Kyodo News, Yoshihide Suga, the new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, is set to take office as Japan`s Prime Minister on Wednesday, with the immediate focus on reviving a battered economy while keeping the coronavirus under control.

Abe, whose support was critical in ensuring Suga's victory in the party election this week, entered the prime minister's office on the last day of his tenure and thanked the people of Japan, vowing to support the incoming government as a regular member of parliament.

Abe added that the medicine he's taking for his chronic illness is working that and he is recovering.

According to an earlier poll, Suga had secured 377 votes, followed by former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with 89 votes and former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba with 68 votes.

Kyodo News further reported that Suga has vowed to push forward with Abe's policies, including "Abenomics," a mix of measures including monetary easing and fiscal stimulus aimed at beating deflation and spurring growth in the world's third-largest economy.

According to media reports, roughly half the cabinet will be made up of people from the Abe cabinet, and there are only two women. The average age, including Suga, is 60.

Among those retaining their jobs are key players such as Finance Minister Taro Aso, Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi and several others, including Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto and Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

Abe's younger brother, Nobuo Kishi, is expected to be tapped for the defence portfolio, while current Defence Minister Taro Kono will take charge of administrative reform.

On August 28, Shinzo Abe had announced his decision to step down citing poor health.