PES comments on abortion referendum in Portugal 

12 February 2007


Commenting on the referendum vote in favour of lifting the ban on abortion in Portugal, and the decision of Portuguese Prime Minister José Socrates to change the law despite the fact that the referendum turnout was less than 50 per cent, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen commented ”The Portuguese people have voted clearly in favour of a change in the law. The Prime Minister is right to go ahead with presenting a new law to the Parliament.” 

Zita Gurmai, President of PES Women, said “Women in Portugal should finally be able to have the same rights as women in the rest of the European Union. The choice of abortion is a profoundly personal and private decision, and the state should not impose its morality. With a change in the law the danger of illegal backstreet abortions, and the threat of prosecution for having an abortion will be ended."

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Julian Scola, Press Officer
Party of European Socialists, Rue du Trône, 98, B-1050 Brussels,
Mobile +32 486 117 394,