Koizumi puts succession bill on back burner

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe backed off Feb. 8 from their earlier pledge to quickly get a bill passed that would allow a female on the throne.

Their about-face came a day after the Imperial Household Agency announced that Princess Kiko, the wife of Emperor Akihito's second son, is pregnant. She is expected to give birth in September or October.

The government was pushing the bill because no boys have been born into the Imperial family since 1965, raising concerns over the surviｖal of the male-only Imperial line.

Koizumi had originally said that he wanted the change to the paternal-line Imperial succession system to be enacted during the current Diet session.

But the news of Princess Kiko's pregnancy changed the situation overnight.

The news gave ammunition to conservative politicians arguing that the bill should be postponed to allow more time for discussions.

If Princess Kiko has a boy, he would be third in line to the throne, following Crown Prince Naruhito, 45, and the princess' husband, Prince Akishino, 40. (The Japan Times)

Shukan ST: Feb. 17, 2006

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