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Abe rules out fourth term as head of Japan's LDP amid talk of tweaking rules to allow another run

Mar 15 (Japan Times) - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suggested Thursday he has no intention of serving another four-year term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party when his third term expires in September 2021.

Abeâ€™s remarks came after some LDP heavyweights hinted at the possibility of changing a party rule to make it possible for him to remain in the post beyond the current limit of three terms.

â€œSeeking a fourth term is prohibited by a party regulation. It is a matter of course to abide by the rule,â€ Abe, who returned to power in late 2012, told a Diet committee session.

â€œAs this is my last tenure, I will concentrate on achieving results with full might,â€ said the 64-year-old, who is set to become Japanâ€™s longest-serving prime minister in November this year, surpassing Taro Katsuraâ€™s record of 2,886 days in office.

Earlier this week, LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai said a fourth term for Abe as head of the party was â€œfully possible.â€

Source: ANNnewsCH

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