A regional government’s decision to restrict abortion rights in much of central Spain reignited debate over the issue in the southern European country on Friday, on the eve of this year’s local elections.
According to new measures adopted by the conservative and far-right coalition that governs Castilla y León, women seeking an abortion there must have optional access to unsolicited resources from doctors before starting the procedure.
These include listening to the fetal heartbeat, having a 4D ultrasound and receiving psychological counselling, in an attempt to reduce the number of abortions.
Patients are free to reject any of these suggestions.
THE ABORTION DECISION FINALLY GIVES THE UNBORN A CHANCE FOR THE LEGAL PROTECTION THEY DESERVE
The new measures were presented on Thursday by the far-right vice president of the regional government, Juan García-Gallardo, whose Vox party is the junior coalition partner of Spain’s main conservative Popular Party in Castilla y León. The Autonomous Communities of Spain have jurisdiction over public health policy at the regional level. The country faces regional elections in June.
“We are going to offer all parents who want to see a video in real time to see the head, hands, feet, fingers. In short, all the parts of the body of the child that is being gestated”. Garcia-Gallardo said.
The announcement sparked strong criticism across Spain, from the left-wing central government and even from the conservative leader of the Madrid region.
García-Gallardo insisted on Friday that the measures would take effect immediately in Castilla y León, where around 2.5 million of Spain’s 47 million inhabitants live.
Women chant slogans while holding placards and banners during the demonstration. On September 28, protesters gathered for the global day of action for the right to free, safe and free abortion in the city center of Madrid.
(Photo by Guillermo Gutierrez Carrascal/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
But Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias said no compromises would be allowed in the field of abortion rights.
Most of the central government ministers were quick to condemn what they described as an attack on women’s rights, one of the main political banners of Spain’s left-wing ruling coalition.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, a prominent conservative figure and head of the Community of Madrid, unexpectedly announced this Friday a new help line for pregnant women. “Women should be free to choose the information they want to get,” she said.
In Spain, abortion is permitted up to the 14th week of pregnancy, and the country has recently taken several measures to strengthen the right to abortion throughout the country.
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Last year, the left-controlled parliament passed a law to ban the intimidation of women entering abortion clinics, where anti-abortion groups often demonstrated in an attempt to change their minds. The country also removed the requirement that 16- and 17-year-old girls obtain parental consent before terminating a pregnancy.
Although Catholicism is not the official faith in Spain, it retains a strong influence over parts of the population. Strongly Catholic for centuries, the country was ruled from 1935 to 1975 by the self-styled National-Catholic regime of military dictator General Francisco Franco.
