Liechtenstein moves to change rules of succession so women can inherit principality's throne

Liechtenstein's royal house said Saturday that the tiny country's rules of succession will be changed so that a woman could inherit the principality's throne in the future.

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. 

The prince said, according to a text of his remarks posted on the princely house's website, the vote allowed that "all female descendants of the Princely House will be granted the same participation rights in matters governed by the House Law as male descendants."

"The line of succession will be adjusted from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture," Alois said. "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 change shouldn't affect the top of the line of succession in the immediate future.

Prince Hans-Adam II remains the head of state, but in 2004 handed over most of his powers to Alois, his eldest son, who is now 58. That was in line with a tradition of Liechtenstein monarchs giving up the reins to their heirs.

The eldest of Alois' four children is 31-year-old Prince Joseph Wenzel.

Liechtenstein, a wealthy nation of 40,000 people that borders Switzerland and Austria, has an unusually powerful monarchy by European standards. The ruling prince has the power to veto referendum results, appoint judges and fire the government.

The country is traditionally conservative and in 1984 became the last European country to grant women the right to vote in national elections. Male voters narrowly approved the change, which Hans-Adam had backed, in a referendum.

Last year, Brigitte Haas became its first female prime minister.