LISBON - An attempt in the Portuguese parliament to liberalise a 13 year old abortion law is stoking old passions, with anti abortionists and reformers clashing in the run up to today's vote. "It could be the last chance to put Portugal on an equal footing with most of Europe," said Mr Duarte Vilar, chairman of the state financed Family Planning Association, which backs reform.
Newspapers said yesterday that the vote, with the ruling Socialists and their main opposition not imposing a party line on deputies, was too close to call on two draft bills that would effectively allow abortions on demand in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. A third bill extending the period when abortions can be carried out in cases of a deformed foetus, from the present 16 weeks to 24 weeks, looked set to pass, they said.
Abortion has been permitted in certain circumstances in Portugal since 1984, a decade after young left wing military officers put an end to 40 years of right wing dictatorship. Pregnancies can be ended at any time where the mother's life is at risk or during the first 12 weeks where her physical or psychological health could be severely impaired. The 12 week limit also covers rape victims.