Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday that his government would seek to have the legislation enabling the emperor's abdication passed during the current session of parliament, which will be wrapped up on June 18.

Abe said in a Liaison Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties that the government will continue to diligently carry out the necessary work for presenting the draft legislation to parliament, which also known as the Diet. 

According to the Japan Times, the cabinet is set to approve the special legislation to enable the emperor’s abdication on May 19, which will later be submitted to the Diet and likely be enacted as early as the end of this month.

A government advisory panel submitted a proposal in April on Emperor Akihito’s abdication, which would enable the 83-year-old monarch to hand over the throne to his son.

The proposal suggested a one-off legislation should be passed on the abdication which would apply only to the current emperor. It states that the emperor will abdicate on a set date within three years after the promulgation of the special legislation and that the imperial heir, or the crown prince, will immediately ascend the throne.

The title for the emperor after abdication will be “joko,” and he will continue to be addressed by the honorific “heika” (meaning “Your Majesty”). The proposal also says the date to effectuate the abdication will be set by a government ordinance.

The government eyes allowing the emperor to abdicate in December 2018, with his 85th birthday in mind, said the proposal.

Citing his age, Emperor Akihito indicated his wish to relinquish and hand over the throne to the crown prince in a video message last August.