(04/18/10) -

Spaniards Reject Governments Abortion Law

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – People in Spain are not satisfied with their government’s new pregnancy termination regulations, according to a poll by NC Report published in La Razón. 54.2 per cent of respondents oppose the Abortion Law.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – People in Spain are not satisfied with their government’s new pregnancy termination regulations, according to a poll by NC Report published in La Razón. 54.2 per cent of respondents oppose the Abortion Law.

Under the previous legislation—introduced in 1985—women in Spain could only terminate a pregnancy in cases of rape, fetal defects, or health risk to the mother.

In September 2009, the Spanish government—headed by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of the Socialist Workers Party (PSOE)—proposed amending the law to allow any woman over the age of 16 to have an abortion on demand in the first 14 weeks of gestation, and in the first 22 weeks if the fetus has a serious or incurable disease. The new law—which will come into effect on Jul. 5—would also allow minors to seek an abortion without the authorization of their parents or guardians.

The current Spanish government has been criticized by the opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) for its decision to change the abortion law and legalize same-sex marriage.

Earlier this month, Zapatero defended his policies, saying, "The gay marriage law has actually made me feel extremely proud. I think people see it as something entirely normal in Spain, gay marriages. We were told that we were killing the family in Spain and yet the Spanish family is in rude health, and a lot more people are happy. We’ve managed to recognize the right of people who have been discriminated against and harassed for many years, because of their sexual orientation and I hope that is an unstoppable trend in advanced societies."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose the government’s Abortion Law?