Portugal to legalize abortion after step backed in referendum
Pastor Dale Morgan
Monday February 12, 7:43 AM
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Portugal to legalize abortion after step backed in referendum*
Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates vowed to legalize abortion after
voters backed the move in a referendum even though turnout was not high
enough to make it binding.
Nearly 60 percent of those who cast ballots in the predominantly Roman
Catholic country approved a government proposal to give all women the
right to an abortion up to the 10th week of pregnancy, according to
official final results.
"The results of this referendum are clear, it proves that the Portuguese
people want to turn the page on the question of abortion," Socrates said.
But turnout in Portugal's second referendum on its abortion law in less
than a decade was 43.6 percent, below the 50 percent threshold needed to
make the ballot legally binding.
Socrates pledged his Socialist government will now use its parliamentary
majority to legalize abortion.
Abortion is currently allowed in Portugal only in cases of rape, a
malformed foetus or if the woman's well-being is in danger.
A woman can be jailed for up to three years for having an illegal
abortion while those who perform them face up to eight years behind bars.
Within the 27-nation European Union only Ireland, Malta and Poland have
abortion laws that are similar or even more restrictive.
Socrates, elected in a landslide in 2005, said the new law would be
modelled on legislation in place in other European nations and would
require a reflection period before an abortion can be carried out.
"It is my sincere conviction that with the result of this referendum
Portugal has taken another step in the creation of a society that is
more open, tolerant and just," he said.
Opposition to change was led by the influential Catholic church which
argued the government should do more to help women to have children
instead of easing abortion restrictions.
One priest threatened Catholics who voted to ease the law with
excommunication from the church. The Bishop of the northern city of
Braganca likened abortion to the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam
Hussein.
More than 90 percent of Portugal's population of 10.6 million identify
themselves as being Roman Catholic although, as in other Catholic
countries, regular church attendance is on the decline.
In a referendum held in 1998 voters upheld the existing abortion law by
a whisker but the result was declared void as nearly seven out of 10
voters stayed away.
During the last referendum the Socialists were split with then prime
minister, Antonio Guterres, publicly opposed to the abortion law being
changed.
Socrates by contrast has backed liberalization at rallies across the
country and this time it was the main opposition centre-right Social
Democrats that was divided on the issue. The party did not adopt an
official position.
Since the last referendum several trials of women charged with illegally
terminating their pregnancies were held that generated widespread public
sympathy for the women. Analysts said this helped boost support for reform.
During the campaign Socrates called backstreet abortions a "national
shame" and cast the referendum as a test of Portugal's readiness for
progress.
Pro-abortion groups estimate that some 10,000 women are hospitalized,
and several die every year from complications arising from botched
backstreet abortions. Anti-abortion groups contest the figure.