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Plan to Change Abortion Law Splits Views in Spain
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - People in Spain are divided in their assessment of a government proposal to modify existing abortion regulations, according to a poll by Instituto Noxa published in La Vanguardia. 44 per cent of respondents support the proposed changes, while 46 per cent oppose them.
Under existing legislation—introduced in 1985—women in Spain can only terminate a pregnancy in cases of rape, fetal defects, or health risk to the mother.
Last month, the Spanish government—headed by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of the Socialist Worker’s 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 would also allow minors to seek an abortion without the consent of their parents or guardians.
Last month, conservative Popular Party (PP) leader Mariano Rajoy encouraged people to attend a massive protest rally which will take place in Madrid on Oct. 17. However, Rajoy said he would not attend himself, adding, "This is being organized by a group of associations who are opposed to an amendment, and I don’t think this event should become politicized."
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose the proposed change to Spain’s existing abortion law?
|
Support |
44% |
|
Oppose |
46% |
|
Neither / Not sure |
8% |
Source: Instituto Noxa / La Vanguardia
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,000 Spanish adults, conducted from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, 2009. Margin of error is 2.24 per cent.
