Liechtenstein’s royal family announced on Saturday a significant change to the principality’s succession laws, allowing for female heirs to inherit the throne. Hereditary Prince Alois made the announcement during a speech for the nation’s national day, stating that the modification was approved by a two-thirds majority of family members eligible to vote. The change shifts the line of succession from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture, meaning that the first-born child, regardless of gender, will be the heir. Although this change will not immediately affect the current line of succession, it marks a pivotal moment in the history of Liechtenstein’s monarchy. The reigning head of state, Prince Hans-Adam II, remains in place, having delegated most of his powers to his son, Alois, in 2004.
Why It Matters
This change reflects a broader trend toward gender equality in hereditary succession, which has been historically male-dominated in many monarchies. Liechtenstein, a small but wealthy nation with a population of around 40,000, has a powerful monarchy compared to other European countries, with the ability to veto referendum results and appoint judges. The hereditary succession reform comes in the context of Liechtenstein’s conservative history, as it was the last European nation to grant women the right to vote in national elections in 1984. The appointment of Brigitte Haas as the first female prime minister last year further illustrates the gradual shift in gender roles within the country’s political landscape.
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