Report supports one-off legislation on abdication
TOKYO: A government advisory panel studying the possible abdication of Emperor Akihito released an interim report yesterday emphasising the merits of allowing the move under legislation applying only to him, effectively backing the plan sought by the government.
The report was formulated to provide a springboard for upcoming Diet discussions as well as the drafting of relevant legislation that, if enacted, would enable the emperor to become the first to abdicate since Emperor Kokaku relinquished the throne some 200 years ago.
The report stopped short of clarifying what kind of legislative approach is desirable to pave the way for the 83-year-old emperor’s abdication, including whether to enact special legislation or revise the Imperial House Law, which does not have a clause for abdication.
The government envisions enactment of one-off legislation, instead of revisions to the Imperial House Law, which is believed to draw more complicated debate and take more time. But some opposition parties are insisting on setting up a permanent system by amending the law.
The government plans to submit the bill in April to the Diet after the advisory panel makes its final proposal, according to a political source.
The mid-term report listed the pros and cons of key issues taken up in the panel’s meetings since October, including whether the emperor’s abdication should be allowed and how, and whether to make more use of an existing system to appoint a regent.
On the idea of setting up a permanent abdication system also covering future emperors, the report cited more challenges than opinions supportive of it. The report said the approach of one-off legislation has the advantage of flexibility.
“It is desirable for the people of the time to make judgements on the pros and cons of abdication in light of situations surrounding an emperor at the time,” including the age gap between the emperor and his successor, political and social situations and the public’s feelings about the issue, it said.
The report cited the difficulty of codifying specific conditions for abdication applicable to future emperors, saying: “It would be difficult to create a system that could prevent an emperor being compelled to abdicate against his will by the government of the time.”
Some legal experts have said abdication should take place through revising the Imperial House Law as the Constitution stipulates the imperial throne shall be “succeeded to in accordance with” the law.
The report introduced options to make abdications in the future possible by enacting special legislation based on the Imperial House Law or applying such legislation by adding a stipulation to the imperial law. There have been differing opinions among the government and opposition parties over abdication, particularly over whether to craft a permanent system.