What Suga’s Premiership Means for Thailand

My article for Thai Enquirer, on Japan’s new prime minister and the ramifications his administration has for the region:

On August 15, 2012, Abe Shinzo was persuaded to run for the Japanese premiership. It was not the first time he had done so; he had already served as prime minister in 2006, only to resign ignominiously a year later after losing public support and suffering from a digestive ailment.

According to The Iconoclast, a new biography on Abe, the figure who had finally persuaded Abe to run again was Suga Yoshihide, a former minister in his government who has remained a loyalist ever since. “Abe-san,” Suga told the former prime minister, “your chance has come. This is the time that I have been waiting for. If you run, I think you will win.” 

Click here for the full piece.

(Cover image credits.)