House of Representatives started discussion
over the bill of Special Law for Emperor’s Abdication on Thursday. It was the
first time for the Diet to discuss Emperor’s Abdication, since current
Constitution was activated in 1947. While the conservative lawmakers were
firmly opposing to make permanent law for abdication, Shinzo Abe administration
explained that the law would be a precedent for the future Emperors. Without
thorough discussion over constitutionality of Emperor’s voluntary abdication,
the bill is supposed to pass the House on Friday.
After Meiji Restoration, the status of
Emperor has been assumed as guaranteed through his lifetime. It was unusual for
the Emperor to express his intention to abdicate last summer. According to the
argument of lawmaker, Sumio Mabuchi, Democratic Party, in the Committee on
Rules and Administration on Thursday, six out of ten Emperors retired before their
deaths after 35th Kogyoku Emperor abdicated for the first time.
To the question of Mabuchi about possibility
of being a precedent, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga recognized it,
even if it would be a special law only applied to current Emperor Akihito.
“Although it is the law for fulfilling His Majesty’s abdication, the process to
construct the bill or basic idea of it can be a precedent,” told Suga.
Democratic Party argued that abdication needs change of provisions in Imperial
Household Law. As a compromise to make whole consensus on abdication, which was
required by Constitution of Japan, the parties agreed on a notion that the
abdication would be a precedent but exceptional.
One fundamental point was left behind.
Article 4 of Constitution of Japan determines that the Emperor does not have
powers related to government. If abdication with Emperor’s intention is
possible, there will possibly be coercive or arbitral abdication in future
thrones. To the question of Kazuo Kitagawa, Komeito, Director General of
Cabinet Legislation Bureau, Yusuke Yokobatake, admitted the existence of issues
like violating Article 4 or harming stable maintenance of Emperor or Imperial
House.
In terms of stability of Imperial House,
creating matrilineal house in imperial system is another issue. The parties
agreed on adding additional resolution to the bill, which requested the government
to consider matrilineal house. While Democratic Party argued that female family
should be able to remain in Imperial House after marriage, the conservatives in
Liberal Democratic Party strongly opposed it.
The bill determines the activation of the
law within three years after the announcement. It will be possible for Emperor
Akihito to leave at the end of next year after the bill passes the Diet.
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