Portuguese President Silva Ratifies Bill That Loosens Abortion Restrictions

Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva on Tuesday ratified a bill that legalizes abortions during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, the AP/International Herald Tribune reports (AP/International Herald Tribune, 4/10). Abortion is illegal in Portugal except when necessary to protect the life or health of a woman or if a woman becomes pregnant as a result of rape. Voters in the country in February approved a referendum that asked, "Do you agree with the decriminalization of the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, in the first 10 weeks, in a legally authorized health establishment?" However, the referendum was deemed invalid because fewer than half of the country's registered voters cast a ballot. The bill ratified by Silva, passed by the Portuguese Parliament in March, requires a mandatory three-day "reflection period" before a woman can choose to receive the procedure (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/12). According to the AP/Herald Tribune, Portugal's Constitution dictates that bills passed by Parliament must be "rubber stamped" by the president. The law will take effect when it is published in the official government records, which will most likely occur next month, the AP/Herald Tribune reports.

President's Recommendations, Reaction
Silva in a statement said that women seeking abortions should be shown an ultrasound of the fetus and that doctors who oppose the procedure should be allowed to counsel them. He added that women also should be informed about the possibility of adoption and the psychological and physical consequences of abortion (AP/International Herald Tribune, 4/10). "The president cannot remain indifferent to the fact that there were 59.25% of votes to lift the ban on abortion," Silva's office said in a statement, adding, "After the law is implemented, it should be monitored to evaluate whether it effectively reduces not only the number of clandestine abortions but also the number of abortions in general" (Reuters/Irish Times, 4/10). Silva described abortion as "a social evil to be avoided," adding that his recommendations seek to strike "a reasonable balance between the various points of view." Alberto Martins, parliamentary leader for the governing Socialist Party, said Silva's recommendations would be examined but added that there were no plans to change the law (AP/International Herald Tribune, 4/10).

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