Abe seeks to avoid repeat of his swift exit a decade ago

Tokyo

UNPOPULAR policies and a slew of scandals triggered a slide in public support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that led to a heavy election defeat.

That was in 2007, when he abruptly resigned, citing health issues, after losing the upper house of parliament. Ten years on, his situation looks uncomfortably similar.

Mr Abe returned to Tokyo on Tuesday from a curtailed European trip to face lost public trust and record-low voter support. Ministerial gaffes and his failure to allay suspicions over a cronyism scandal involving a close friend …