Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and critically wounded during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan. The arch-conservative leader was airlifted to a hospital but officials said he was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He remains in critical condition. 

Abe, who is 67 and was Japan’s longest-serving leader before stepping down in 2020, was in cardio and pulmonary arrest as he was airlifted to the hospital, local fire department official Makoto Morimoto said.

Who is Shinzo Abe?

Shinzo Abe served as Japan’s longest post-war prime minister for eight years between 2012 and 2020. Prior to that, at the age of 52, he first became the prime minister in 2006. However, after a year he stepped down citing health concerns.

In August 2020, he resigned from the post citing health conditions and he was succeeded by fellow Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Yoshihide Suga, who Fumio Kishida later replaced.

Powerful political family

The former Japanese PM hails from a powerful political family that has been in politics for decades. His grandfather served as prime minister between 1957 and 1960, and Abe’s father served as foreign minister.

After his father’s death in 1993, Shinzo Abe ran in a general election. He has since become an influential figure in Japanese politics.

Served twice as Japan’s PM

Shinzo Abe has served twice as Japan’s prime minister first from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020.

He first came to power in 2006 when he became the prime minister. At 52, he was Japan’s youngest post-war PM. However, he stepped down and resigned a year later as the Liberal Democratic Party lost an Upper House election.

After five years, Shinzo Abe then led his party LDP to a landslide victory in the 2012 Lower House election and became Japan’s PM again.

Abenomics policy

Shinzo Abe became known for his Abenomics policy. The policy helped Japan come out of a period of minimal growth and overall deflation. Abenomics policies are economic policies taken by Shinzo to revitalise Japan’s economy.

Longest-serving Japanese PM

After serving nearly eight years in office, from 2012 to 2020, he became the longest-serving Japanese PM. Shinzo resigned in August 2020 owing to health problems like bowel disease relapse.

Since then, he has remained a dominant presence over the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), controlling one of its major sections.