The abdication advisory panel is expected to compile its final proposal in late April, about a month later than planned, because reconciling the views of ruling and opposition camps is going to take time, government sources said Monday.
The main point of contention centers around whether special one-off legislation applying only to Emperor Akihito should be enacted or whether the Imperial House Law itself should be revised to permanently provide an opening for abdications.
The move could also push back the government's plan to submit the special one-off bill to sometime after the Golden Week holidays through May 7, instead of late April, the sources said.