CDP to Oppose Govt-Backed Imperial Family Bill

Tokyo, July 8 (Jiji Press)–The major opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan decided Wednesday to oppose a government-backed bill to revise the Imperial House Law that is aimed at maintaining a sufficient number of Imperial Family members. The CDP criticizes a provision allowing male-line descendants of former Imperial Family branches to be adopted into the Imperial Family, planning to propose revisions to the bill. The House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, is set to begin deliberations on the bill on Friday. Now that the CDP is set to oppose the bill, the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are expected to face a difficult situation, as they have maintained that the bill is based on the consensus of the country’s legislative branch compiled by the leaders and vice leaders of both chambers of the Diet. The bill calls for allowing the Imperial Family to adopt male, paternal-line descendants of former Imperial Family branches and allowing female members of the Imperial Family to maintain their status after marriage. The bill also includes a provision that the sons of Imperial Family adoptees will be eligible to succeed to the throne. CDP Secretary-General Masayo Tanabu said at a press conference Wednesday that “the CDP will submit an amendment, and if it is rejected, we will vote against the bill” submitted by the government. Questions remain over the ideal of institutionalizing adoption into the Imperial Family, she added. Meanwhile, the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance called on the government to amend a draft supplementary resolution presented by the Diet leaders and vice leaders. At a task force meeting, the CRA approved a proposal to revise the resolution. The proposal calls for adding a provision stating that prompt consideration shall be given to whether the sons of Imperial Family adoptees are eligible for the throne, and necessary measures shall be taken if required. The proposal will also include a call for considering whether a female Emperor should be allowed. CRA’s Hirofumi Ryu told reporters that if the party’s proposal regarding the sons of Imperial Family adoptees is accepted, it would support the government-sponsored bill, suggesting that the CRA will seek cooperation from the Democratic Party for the People and Komeito, both opposition parties. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]