Bolsonaro thanks Shinzo Abe for bolstering ties with Brazil

President Jair Bolsonaro today (Sep. 1) expressed his gratitude towards Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for his work strengthening partnerships between his country and Brazil. On August 28, Abe announced he was resigning from his post due to a chronic disease.

“I thank Japan’s Prime Minister Sinzo Abe, a big friend of Brazil, for the great work we were able to carry out to further strengthen the partnership between our countries. I hope he beats the health problems that motivated his decision to leave the government as soon as possible,” Bolsonaro wrote online.

This is the second time the premier quits his position due to a health condition. In 2007, Abe resigned due to an intestinal inflammatory condition, after having served for just one year. He resumed the post of prime minister in 2012, after a crushing victory in an election for the lower house of Parliament.

Having been prime minister for seven years, Abe is the longest serving leader in Japanese history. He could remain yet ther year in the post, as his tenure as president of the Liberal Party, the main in the government’s coalition, would not end until September next year.