“Japan lost a great prime minister who dedicated his life to his country and worked to ensure order in the world,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was “confused and deeply saddened” by Abe’s death. “We stand by the Japanese side in these difficult hours,” he wrote on Twitter. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also offered his condolences to Abe’s family and Japan.

“I will never understand the brutal murder of this man. Japan, Europe mourns (lost this – PAP) with you. My most sincere condolences to my wife and family (Abe),” said Charles Michel, President of the Council of Europe.

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, described Abe as “an extraordinary person, a great democrat and champion of the multilateral world order.” “The brutal and cowardly murder of Shinzo Abe shocked the whole world,” he wrote.

South Korean President Jun Suk Jeol offered his condolences to the wife of the shot politician, Akie Abe. “I extend my condolences to the bereaved families and Japanese people who have lost their longest-serving prime minister and respected politician,” he said, describing the attack as an “unforgivable crime.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the assassination of the former Japanese prime minister as shocking and deeply disturbing. He described Abe as a “leader with great vision” and an “extraordinary partner” of the United States. His death was “a loss for Japan and the world,” he said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Abe as a “giant on the world stage” and called the news of his death devastating. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, also expressed surprise at the attack.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in turn said he was “shocked and saddened” by the “tragic death of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe.”

China’s Foreign Ministry described Abe’s assassination as the “biggest political incident” in Japanese history since World War II. Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian expressed his shock at the attack and expressed sympathy for Abe’s family.

Taiwan’s President, Caj Ing-wen, judged that “the international community has lost an important leader,” and Taiwan – an “important and close friend.” He denounced the attack as a “brutal and illegal act.”

Abe was shot on Friday morning during a political rally in the western Japanese city of Nara. After a few hours, Japanese media reported his death. Police have arrested a suspect in the attack on a 41-year-old man who confessed to wanting to kill the former prime minister (PAP).

anb / akl /