Liechtenstein Scraps Male-Only Rule for Throne
Liechtenstein Scraps Male-Only Rule for Throne
The News
Liechtenstein's royal house said Saturday it is changing the principality's rules of succession so that a woman can inherit the throne.
Hereditary Prince Alois, 58, announced the change in his speech marking the country's national day.
The line of succession moves from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture — the first-born child inherits, regardless of sex.
Timeline
Liechtenstein becomes the last country in Europe to grant women the right to vote in national elections. Male voters narrowly approve the change in a referendum, which Prince Hans-Adam II had backed.
Hans-Adam II, who remains head of state, hands most of his powers to his eldest son, Alois — in line with a tradition of Liechtenstein monarchs giving up the reins to their heirs.
Brigitte Haas becomes the country's first female prime minister.
The change is approved by the required two-thirds majority of family members who can vote on such matters, according to Alois.
Alois announces the decision in his national day address.
Reactions
"The line of succession will be adjusted from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture," Alois said. "That means that in the future, the first-born child will, regardless of sex, become the heir to the throne and later the princess or prince of Liechtenstein."
He framed the move as part of how the princely house operates: "The ability to combine continuity and renewal is also a principle that we foster inside the princely house," he said, according to a text of his remarks posted on the princely house's website. In "our centuries-old history," he added, "it has served us well to make decisions in a long-term and very well thought-out way."
Alois described the change as approved by the family members entitled to vote on it. He did not describe any parliamentary vote or public referendum on the matter.
What's Next
Nothing changes at the top of the line for now. Hans-Adam II remains head of state, and Alois continues to hold most executive powers.
The eldest of Alois' four children is 31-year-old Prince Joseph Wenzel.
More
Liechtenstein is a wealthy nation of 40,000 people wedged between Switzerland and Austria, and its monarchy is unusually powerful by European standards. The ruling prince can veto referendum results, appoint judges and fire the government.
The country is also traditionally conservative — the 1984 vote made it the last European state to give women the national franchise.
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