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Submission of succession bill needs to be delayed: LDP official+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, Feb. 7_(Kyodo) _ A ranking Liberal Democratic Party official indicated Tuesday night that the government is likely to postpone the planned submission to the current Diet session of a bill to allow female monarchs, following the news of Princess Kiko's pregnancy. "Practically speaking, we have no option but to wait (until a baby is born)," the LDP official, who declined to be named, told reporters in reference to the government's plan to submit the bill to revise the Imperial House Law during the current regular Diet session through June 18. Imperial Household Agency sources said earlier Tuesday that Princess Kiko, the wife of Emperor Akihito's second son Prince Akishino, is expected to give birth in late October. The agency said at a news conference that the princess has shown signs of pregnancy. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] |