Liechtenstein’s royal house said Saturday that the tiny country’s rules of succession will be changed so that a woman could in the future inherit the principality’s throne.
Hereditary Prince Alois announced the change in his speech marking the country’s national day. He said it was approved on Wednesday by the necessary two-thirds majority of family members who can vote on such matters.
Hereditary Prince Alois announced the change in his speech marking the country’s national day. He said it was approved on Wednesday by the necessary two-thirds majority of family members who can vote on such matters. “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. The ruling prince has the power to veto referendum results, appoint judges and fire the government.
Liechtenstein, a wealthy nation of 40,000 people that borders Switzerland and Austria, has an unusually powerful monarchy by European standards.
“The ability to combine continuity and renewal is also a principle that we foster inside the princely house,” Alois said, according to a text of his remarks posted on the princely house’s website. He said that “in our centuries-old history, it has served us well to make decisions in a long-term and very well thought-out way. “The line of succession will be adjusted from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture,” Alois said.
Last year, Brigitte Haas became its first female prime minister.
