Liechtenstein opens succession to women

The Princely House of Liechtenstein decided on Saturday to reform the succession rules, permitting women to ascend to the princely throne. This decision represents a radical shift, as only male descendants were recognized as heirs to the throne until now.

The new regulation stipulates that the firstborn child, regardless of gender, will inherit the throne. Previously, succession was solely reserved for male descendants, leading to inequality in the line of succession. With this change, the principle of absolute primogeniture will be introduced.

The decision was supported by the majority of the princely family and marks a significant step towards gender equality within the monarchy. In the past, Hereditary Prince Alois had expressed concerns about such a reform, emphasizing that stability should be the top priority.

However, the effects of the new regulation will only be felt in the next generation, as the rule does not apply to the current line of succession within the Princely House. This means that it will take some time before a woman can actually take on a leading role.

Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy led by Prince Hans-Adam II since 1989, while his son, Hereditary Prince Alois, has been in charge of day-to-day affairs since 2004. The recent reform may be seen as a measure to modernize the monarchical system within the small Alpine state.

The Princely House has initiated the necessary steps to formally implement the changes. The public has already been informed about these developments, and it remains to be seen how society in Liechtenstein will respond to these far-reaching changes. The discussion over the relevance of tradition and modern family law may increase in the coming years.