Japanese PM lands in Romania as leader he is to meet resigns

17/1/2018 3:36

        Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Bucharest for key talks on North Korea and investment, but landed in a Romanian political crisis prompted by the prime minister's unexpected resignation.
        
        Just as Abe was arriving in Romania at the end of his six-nation European tour, President Klaus Iohannis named Defense Minister Mihai Fifor as the country's interim prime minister.
        
        Mihai Tudose, who took office in June 2017, quit as premier late Monday after the left-wing Social Democratic Party withdrew its support for him amid a party power struggle between him and the party's powerful chairman.
        
        The resignation plunged Romania's currency, the leu, close to record-low levels and a two-week low against the euro.
        
        The crisis meant Abe's lunch and talks with the prime minister were canceled, but Abe later met Romania's president, where they talked about the danger posed by North Korea's nuclear arms.
        
        Despite the importance of Abe's visit — the first by a Japanese prime minister to Romania — the political crisis dominated the news agenda.