Associated Press reported last week that Spain's Justice
Minister says the conservative government will present by the end of October
its proposed changes to the country's abortion law, with the amendments
expected to introduce new restrictions on pregnancy terminations.
See Star Tribune article.
Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon said in a recent interview with
Radio Nacional de Espana the alterations "will be in line with the Popular
Party's longstanding position" on abortion, though he did not elaborate.
The Popular Party has long sided with the Catholic Church on
moral and social issues, and fought the previous Socialist government's 2010
abortion law scrapping restrictions up to the 14th week of pregnancy.
Changing that law was one of the Popular Party's main
election promises in a 2011 ballot that brought it to power. Its parliamentary
majority enables it to pass legislation despite other parties' opposition.
Over 250,000 people signed a petition last year
seeking to repeal the country's liberal abortion law that replaced the 1985
one, following reports that abortion levels had dramatically increased
ever since that legislation was approved.
