Friday February 19, 2010
Pro-Abortion Law Advances in Spanish Senate
Legislation declaring abortion a “right” during first 14 weeks of pregnancy hinges on eight votes
By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
MADRID, February 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Spain’s proposed new abortion law, which would legalize abortions for any reason during the first fourteen weeks of pregnancy, is advancing again in the Spanish Senate.
Although the legislation received a “veto” from several members of the Senate’s Equality Committee on Wednesday, the veto has been overridden in a narrow 14-12 vote.
However, the more conservative People’s Party (PP) has managed to attach almost 90 proposed amendments to the bill, and it is not yet certain that the governing Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party (PSOE) will be able to pass it.
According to an analysis published in the liberal Madrid newspaper El Pais, the PP has 126 solid votes against the legislation, while the PSOE and its allies have 129. However, eight senators from smaller regional parties have not yet established a firm position.
Despite the uncertainties, Benigno Blanco of Spain’s Family Forum foresees disaster, predicting that “sadly, it is going to be approved.”
The full Senate will vote on the bill on February 24 at which time it could receive final approval by the Spanish legislature. However, if it passes with amendments or modifications, the final approval would be delayed until at least March 11.
Previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Spanish Pro-Lifers Deliver More than One Million Signatures against Abortion Law
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10021713.html
Catholic Theologians Say Spanish King Should Refuse to Sign Pro-Abortion Legislation
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10021008.html
Spanish Bishop Denounces Abortion as “the worst dictatorship that can exist”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jan/10010506.html
Proposed Abortion Law Strikes at Legitimacy of the Government: Spanish Catholic Bishops
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061914.html