Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday he will not run for re-election as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP. The announcement effectively ends his run as prime minister just a year after it began. “I have decided not to run for the party leadership elections, as I would like to focus on coronavirus measures,” Suga told reporters at a Tokyo press conference. Suga became prime minister last September. He took over for Shinzo Abe, who stepped down for health reasons. The son of a farmer, Suga enjoyed public support ratings as high as 70 percent early in office. He was seen as a leader of common people, rather than of powerful political families like Abe. However, Suga’s political popularity sharply fell as he struggled to control the coronavirus pandemic. He came under strong criticism about his approach to the health crisis from the public and his own party. Much of the criticism has centered on his decision to host the Tokyo Olympics this summer even with widespread public opposition. He had hoped that a successful Olympics would increase his public support. Shortly after the Games began in late July, Japan saw its worst increase in coronavirus infections. Suga put in place states of emergency to slow the spread. But they have had little effect. Japan’s COVID infection rate continues to stay high. Although, its virus death rate remains relatively low compared to many other developed countries. A recent survey by public broadcaster NHK shows that 60 percent of Japanese people are unhappy with Suga’s response to the virus. Many are also unhappy with the country’s vaccine effort. Vaccination rates have only recently started to rise.
Title: Japan’s Prime Minister Suga to Leave Office
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/C.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Japans Prime Minister Suga to Leave Office' data-article-id='5860'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='14875'>Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday he will not run for re-election as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP. </span> <span data-start-time='14875' data-end-time='23854'>The announcement effectively ends his run as prime minister just a year after it began.</span> <span data-start-time='23854' data-end-time='37875'>“I have decided not to run for the party leadership elections, as I would like to focus on coronavirus measures,” Suga told reporters at a Tokyo press conference.</span> <span data-start-time='37875' data-end-time='43021'>Suga became prime minister last September. </span> <span data-start-time='43021' data-end-time='49042'>He took over for Shinzo Abe, who stepped down for health reasons. </span> <span data-start-time='49042' data-end-time='60104'>The son of a farmer, Suga enjoyed public support ratings as high as 70 percent early in office.</span> <span data-start-time='60104' data-end-time='69625'>He was seen as a leader of common people, rather than of powerful political families like Abe.</span> <span data-start-time='69625' data-end-time='80458'>However, Suga’s political popularity sharply fell as he struggled to control the coronavirus pandemic.</span> <span data-start-time='80458' data-end-time='89000'>He came under strong criticism about his approach to the health crisis from the public and his own party.</span> <span data-start-time='89000' data-end-time='101146'>Much of the criticism has centered on his decision to host the Tokyo Olympics this summer even with widespread public opposition. </span> <span data-start-time='101146' data-end-time='108042'>He had hoped that a successful Olympics would increase his public support.</span> <span data-start-time='108042' data-end-time='117458'>Shortly after the Games began in late July, Japan saw its worst increase in coronavirus infections. </span> <span data-start-time='117458' data-end-time='123146'>Suga put in place states of emergency to slow the spread. </span> <span data-start-time='123146' data-end-time='127750'>But they have had little effect.</span> <span data-start-time='127750' data-end-time='132896'>Japan’s COVID infection rate continues to stay high. </span> <span data-start-time='132896' data-end-time='141875'>Although, its virus death rate remains relatively low compared to many other developed countries.</span> <span data-start-time='141875' data-end-time='154354'>A recent survey by public broadcaster NHK shows that 60 percent of Japanese people are unhappy with Suga’s response to the virus. </span> <span data-start-time='154354' data-end-time='160604'>Many are also unhappy with the country’s vaccine effort. </span> <span data-start-time='160604' data-end-time='166292'>Vaccination rates have only recently started to rise.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/C.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=18015 data-hint-location='60104' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/what_is_a_leader.wav'>What is a leader?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/a_machine_for_sowing_seed_mechanically.wav'><span>a machine for sowing seed mechanically</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/a_legal_document_that_is_signed_and_delivered_especially_one_regarding_the_ownership_of_property_or_legal_rights.wav'><span>a legal document that is signed and delivered, especially one regarding the ownership of property or legal rights</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/the_person_who_leads_or_commands_a_group_organization_or_country.wav'><span>the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/a_solemn_request_for_help_or_expression_of_thanks.wav'><span>a solemn request for help or expression of thanks</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=18016 data-hint-location='37875' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/when_did_suga_become_prime_minister.wav'>When did Suga become prime minister?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='September 2020'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/september_2020.wav'><span>September 2020</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/november_2020.wav'><span>November 2020</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/september_2021.wav'><span>September 2021</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/january_2021.wav'><span>January 2021</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=18017 data-hint-location='108042' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/shortly_after_the_games_began_in_late_july_japan_saw_its_worst_increase_in__blank__infections_.wav'>Shortly after the Games began in late July, Japan saw its worst increase in <span class='blank'>coronavirus</span> infections. </div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='coronavirus'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/checkers.wav'><span>checkers</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/mosquito.wav'><span>mosquito</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/coronavirus.wav'><span>coronavirus</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5306/gaming.wav'><span>gaming</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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