Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein has stated he would veto any changes to the country's abortion laws. This announcement comes despite a new popular initiative seeking to modernise the current legislation.
The initiative proposes decriminalising abortion up to 12 weeks, repealing the national ban on information about abortions, and ensuring the procedure is covered by health insurance. A recent poll indicates that 62% of voters would support these changes if a vote were held.
Liechtenstein currently has some of Europe's strictest abortion laws. While abortions are permitted if a woman was raped or her health is at risk, an estimated 40 women annually travel abroad to terminate pregnancies. The country also has a ban on providing information about abortions, which is described as the last of its kind in Europe.
Campaigners for the initiative gathered 4,970 signatures, marking the second-largest tally for a popular initiative in Liechtenstein's history. Hereditary Prince Alois previously threatened to use his veto in 2011 during a similar attempt to legalise abortion.