GENEVA, Switzerland, Mar 23, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Switzerland’s upper and lower houses of parliament have completed their voting in favour of legalizing abortion-on-demand for babies up to twelve weeks gestation. The National Council – Parliament’s larger chamber – voted 107-69, and the Council of States, approved the proposal 22-20. The issue has been debated for eight years, since the Socialist party introduced a bill to legalize it.
AP reports that the centrist Christian People’s Party – a member of the four-party coalition government – immediately challenged the decision and announced it would collect the 100,000 signatures necessary under Swiss law to force a referendum. That would prevent the law from taking effect before the national vote, which is unlikely to be held for several years.
Although technically illegal abortions could be obtained in Swiss hospitals with consent of two doctors.
See the AP report at: https://www.nandotimes.com/noframes/story/0,2107,500466697-500713285-503942587-0,00.html?group=healthscience