Japan's CDP Opposes Imperial Bills Over Male-Heir Clause in Upper House Vote
Updated
Updated · The Japan Times · Jul 16
Japan's CDP Opposes Imperial Bills Over Male-Heir Clause in Upper House Vote
3 articles · Updated · The Japan Times · Jul 16
Summary
The Constitutional Democratic Party voted against a package of imperial family bills in an Upper House committee on Thursday, breaking with the Centrist Reform Alliance's stance in the Lower House.
The dispute centers on a clause that would let male offspring of newly reinstated imperial family members become heirs to the chrysanthemum throne, which the CDP called a "sneak attack."
Last month's parliamentary panel outline had proposed reinstating male members of former imperial branches through adoption but did not mention succession rights for their future sons.
That later addition in the government's draft caught some parties off guard and has clouded prospects for a merger between the CDP and CRA.