Shinzo Abe (sometimes they write Abe, which is not entirely accurate) is the current head of the Japanese government. Today, interest in this person is fueled by negotiations between Russia and the Land of the Rising Sun on the transfer of the last two islands of the Kuril ridge. Will a politician like Abe be able to get concessions from Moscow?
Biography
The name Shinzo Abe is well-known even among those Russians who do not follow politics very well. No wonder: Mr. Abe became the head of the Japanese government four times. The first time - in the "zero" years, the last time - in 2017.
It should be noted that in Japan the head of state - the emperor - has only nominal power. The prime minister concentrates the main levers of power.
Four times to rise to the top of the political hierarchy of Shinzo Abe helped not only undoubted ability, but also origin. His maternal grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, was prime minister from 1957-1960. Father in the 80s. last century served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Shinzo Abe was born in 1954. He had been preparing for a career in the government since his youth. Studied political science at Seikei University in Tokyo. In addition, at the end of the 1970s. he temporarily moved to America to attend the School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
The young Abe started his career at Kobe Steel, but after three years he switched to civil service. In 1982, his father will stop as head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, and Shinzo as assistant minister. Then he received a high post in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), one of the leading political forces in his country.
Since 1993, Abe has been regularly elected as a member of the lower house of the Japanese parliament. In 2006, he became chairman of the LDP, and soon became the head of the country's government for the first time. At the same time, he became the youngest prime minister in the recent history of Japan.
Years of S. Abe's tenure as prime minister:
- 2006-2007
- 2012-2014
- 2014-2017
- 2017-present.
Personal life
Wife - Akie, daughter of a large businessman. The couple has no children.
Among Shinzo Abe's hobbies are golf, archery. The politician actively uses Facebook, where he has over half a million subscribers. Fluent in English.
Political views
As a Liberal Democrat, Abe devotes a special place in domestic politics to economics. In 2013, he announced a new strategy, which journalists dubbed "abenomics" (by analogy with "Reaganomics"). Its features are an increase in government spending on large projects, stimulation of private investment in the country's economy. In addition, Abe promotes the idea of increasing the role of women in the political and economic spheres.
In foreign policy, Abe adheres to the course of military cooperation with the United States, sharply opposes North Korea.
At the same time, Abe is pursuing a course of building up Japan's military might. After the defeat in the Second World War, the country has the Self-Defense Forces. Under Abe, a reform project was adopted to transform the Japanese armed forces into a full-fledged army with a powerful offensive potential.
What to expect from Abe Russia
Shinzo Abe sets the signing of a peace treaty with Russia as one of his goals. The fact is that there is still no document between the countries that would draw a line under the results of World War II. There is only the Soviet-Japanese joint declaration of 1956, in which the parties announced the end of the war and the restoration of good-neighborly relations.
At the same time, Japan expects that Russia will return to it the South Kuril Islands, conquered in 1945. According to the 1956 declaration, we can talk about two islands - Habomai and Shikotan. Nevertheless, the Japanese ruling circles have long insisted on obtaining the four islands.
In addition, Japan in 1960 allowed the United States to deploy military bases on its territory. This categorically did not suit the Soviet side - and continues to not suit Russia. As a result, there is still no world on paper.
Shinzo Abe seemed to have moved the process off the ground. A series of negotiations were held between Tokyo and Moscow. The head of the Japanese government announced his consent to the transfer of two islands to his country, not four. At the same time, the politician said that US military bases in these territories would not be located.
But Moscow needs clear guarantees. Therefore, the sides have not yet found a common position, negotiations are continuing.
