Liechtenstein MPs Move to Legalise Abortion Despite Royal Veto Threat

Liechtenstein’s parliament has narrowly backed a citizens’ initiative to legalise abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The vote passed by just 13 to 12 in the small 25-seat parliament. However, this new law is highly unlikely to ever take effect. The country’s all-powerful ruler, Hereditary Prince Alois, has already made it clear that he will veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.

The push for this change was led by a determined group of women, including 28-year-old Tatjana As’Ad of the left-wing Free List party. Together, they collected nearly 5,000 signatures to force the debate. The initiative would not only legalise early abortion, but also lift a nationwide ban on sharing information about the procedure and allow it to be covered by health insurance.

Liechtenstein is a deeply conservative nation. Almost 80% of its 41,000 residents belong to the Roman Catholic Church, which strongly opposes abortion. The country last held a public vote on the issue in 2011, and the proposal was narrowly rejected by voters.

Under current rules, abortion is only allowed if a woman’s life is in immediate danger or in cases of rape. Anyone who breaks this rule can face up to three years in prison, while the woman herself can be jailed for up to a year. Because of these harsh restrictions, many women are forced to travel to neighbouring Austria or Switzerland to get medical care, paying for the entire trip out of their own pockets.

The Princely House has stated its main concern is that the new rule does not provide enough protection for unborn life. Prince Alois holds unusually wide powers for a Western European monarch, including the ability to dismiss the government and veto any law.

For now, the women who fought for this change have won a symbolic victory in parliament. But until the crown changes its mind, their right to choose remains locked behind a royal wall.