PAPEETE, Apr 26, 2001 (LSN.ca) – The Socialist government in France has passed a law increasing the legal limit for abortions from 10 weeks to 12 weeks. However, a clause in the bill, forces French Polynesia to publicly fund abortions, as has been done in France for some 25 years. Agence France Presse reports that the colony’s strong religious tradition has prevented the law’s extension thus far and Polynesia is rejecting the clause.
Gaston Flosse, president of the French overseas territory that includes Tahiti and other islands, said Wednesday his government was prepared to take the issue to the constitutional court in Paris if legislation adopted by the national assembly was not amended by the French Senate. The Senate will debate the Polynesian amendment on May 9 and the new legislation is due to be given final approval in June.
(Agence France Presse English Thu 26 Apr 2001 International News)
(with files from Pro-Life E-News)