CGTN America
Front pages of British national newspapers, each leading with a front page story of the resignation of Boris Johnson as leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, are arranged for a photograph in Downing Street, the official residence of Britain’s Prime Minister, in central London on July 8, 2022. – UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday quit as Conservative party leader, after three tumultuous years in charge marked by Brexit, Covid and mounting scandals. Johnson, 58, announced that he would step down after a slew of resignations this week from his top team in protest at his leadership but would stay on as prime minister until a replacement is found. (Photo by CARLOS JASSO / AFP)
After losing support from his own cabinet, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation. We will talk about the consequences of that later, but first:
Condolences are pouring in from around the globe over the tragic passing of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister in history. Shinzo Abe was assassinated while making a campaign speech for a parliamentary election on Friday. The gunman was tackled at the scene after shooting Abe in the chest and neck. He told police he “aimed to kill” the 67-year-old former prime minister because he was “dissatisfied” with him.
CGTN’s Terrence Terashima has more.
To discuss:
- Takesato Watanabe is a Professor of the Department of Media Studies at Doshisha University.
- Einar Tangen is Senior Fellow at the Taihe Institute.
- Anton Fedyashin is a professor of history at American University.
We will turn now to the news from Great Britain. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he is stepping down as leader of the Conservative Party and – when the party finds a new leader – he will also step down as Prime Minister.
Guy Henderson has the story, from London.
To discuss:
- Jonathan Lis is a Political commentator and journalist.
- Wayne Fitzgerald is leader of the Peterborough City Council.
- Anton Fedyashin is a professor of history at American University.
For more:
Looking back at TIME's coverage of Shinzo Abe: "I Am a Patriot" https://t.co/KOKfXPMr1N
📝: Olivia B. Waxman (@OBWax)
— TIME (@TIME) July 8, 2022
#UPDATE Rishi Sunak, whose resignation from PM Boris Johnson's cabinet helped spark an exodus of other ministers has declared his candidacy to become the party's next leader.
"Let's restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country," he said in a new campaign video. pic.twitter.com/CsMLIioo3h
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 8, 2022
