Portugal’s parliament approved a bill allowing abortions until the 10th week of pregnancy, after a referendum on easing restrictions on the procedure was nullified because of low turnout.
Currently, abortions in the mostly Catholic country are allowed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy only if a woman’s health is at risk. In cases of rape it is permitted until the 16th week, and there are no time limits if the procedure is the only way of saving a pregnant woman’s life.
In a referendum last month, nearly 60 percent of voters supported an easing of the country’s tight abortion laws. The vote was nullified because of low turnout, but Prime Minister Jose Socrates, whose Socialist government holds a parliamentary majority, said he would take the bill to parliament.
The bill, voted on in parliament Thursday evening, foresees a mandatory three-day reflection period before a woman can choose to terminate her pregnancy. It passed with votes from the Socialists, the Left Bloc, and the Communist and Green parties. Right-wing Christian Democrats opposed it.
The bill is now subject to presidential ratification in the next 20 days but becomes law only after published, a process that could take several months.
Lisbon, Feb. 13, 2007 (CWNews.com) – Following a national referendum that showed public support for legal abortion, entrepreneurs in Portugal have unveiled plans for a massive 3-story, $3.5-million abortion clinic in the heart of downtown Lisbon.
Read Previous Post