After the retirement, not only did he order the construction of Reizen In and Saga In, which made the financial situation worse for the Imperial Palace, but he also interfered in politics as the top of the palace after his biological son, Prince Masara (Emperor Ninmyo), became Emperor; moreover, despite the opposition of the emperors Junna and Ninmyo, he set Prince Tsunesada up as the crown prince, who was his grandchild and Emperor Junna's prince, so in subsequent years his autocratic style caused many problems.
退位後は冷然院・嵯峨院を造営して財政を逼迫させただけでなく、実子正良親王（仁明天皇）が即位すると「皇室の長」として政治に干渉する場面も多くなり、更に淳和上皇や仁明天皇の反対を押し切って自分の外孫でもある淳和上皇の皇子恒貞親王を皇太子とするなど、朝廷内で絶大な権力を振るって後に様々な火種を残した。