Abe’s assassination ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election shocked the nation and raised questions over whether security for the former prime minister was adequate.
Often described as a right-wing nationalist leader, Abe served as the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020. He resigned in 2020 because of ill health. He also served as the president of the Liberal Democratic Party from 2012 to 2020.
Shinzo Abe first came to power in 2006 when he became the prime minister. At 52, he was Japan's youngest post-war PM. However, he stepped down and resigned a year later as the Liberal Democratic Party lost an Upper House election.