The Parliament of Liechtenstein voted on Wednesday September 2, by the narrowest possible majority, in favor of a citizens’ initiative aimed at legalizing abortion in this small Alpine principality. However, the country’s regent, Hereditary Prince Alois, who has veto power, has clearly expressed his opposition to this initiative.
Abortion is prohibited in Liechtenstein: it is only permitted in exceptional cases, for example when the mother’s life is in danger or when a woman has become pregnant following rape. A woman who has an abortion risks up to one year in prison, and a person who performs an abortion outside of the exceptions provided for up to three years in prison.
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Led in particular by Tatjana As’Ad, 28, one of the leaders of the small left-wing party Freie Liste (free list), the initiative calls for the legalization of abortion during the first three months of pregnancy.
Catholicism, state religion in Liechtenstein
The committee behind the initiative collected 4,970 signatures, almost five times the legal minimum of 1,000 required for such an approach, and a very significant number for this tiny German-speaking principality which has barely 41,000 inhabitants – of whom around 35% are permanent foreign residents – and where Catholicism is the state religion.
The initiative was considered by the Landtag – parliament – in Vaduz, the capital, on Wednesday and was put to a vote after a long debate. “Approved by 13 votes out of the 25 members present. The Landtag has therefore approved the citizens’ initiative,” declared Parliament President Manfred Kaufmann, announcing the result.
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If the Landtag had rejected the initiative, the measure would have been put to a referendum. However, after winning the parliamentary vote, an elected official from the Freie Liste asked that the initiative still be submitted to a referendum. But the motion to hold a referendum was rejected by 13 votes to 12.
In a referendum on the legalization of abortion in 2011, 52% of voters opposed it.
With AFP
