Liechtenstein prince vetoes abortion bill

The tiny European nationʼs Parliament passed the bill by a single vote. The prince “will therefore withhold” approval from the bill adopted by the Parliament, the Princely House said in an October 20 statement.

In Liechtenstein, a nation of about 40,000 people between Switzerland and Austria, no law takes effect without the reigning princeʼs approval.

The statement said Alois “remains convinced that the proposed reform is not compatible with ensuring adequate protection of unborn life as a fundamental legal value”.

The statement added that Alois supports better information, counselling and support for women before, during and after pregnancy. This veto was the first Alois has used during his reign.

The bill would have allowed abortion up to 12 weeks. The activists behind the initiative pushing for legalisation also sought to lift an advertising ban and have health insurance cover abortions.

Voters narrowly rejected legalising abortion in a 2011 referendum after Alois said he would veto it if approved. In 2012, more than three-quarters of voters rejected a proposal to remove the princeʼs veto over laws approved by referendum.

Meanwhile, Poland’s Parliament has approved two bills that would liberalise the country’s strict abortion laws.

One bill would seek to allow abortions for foetal abnormalities, which passed by 233 to 203, while the other bill would decriminalise helping a woman have an unlawful abortion, which passed by 217 to 213.

However, even if the bills pass the Senate, it is expected that President Karol Nawrocki will veto both bills as he previously suggested he wouldn’t sign a bill decriminalising abortion into law.

FULL STORY

Liechtenstein’s prince vetoes bill to legalize abortion up to 12 weeks (EWTN News)

Polish parliament approves two bills liberalizing abortion (Crux Now)