The Nationalist Party said on Thursday it will not support the government's new Bill allowing the termination of pregnancies when the mother is in danger of death as well as when her health is at serious risk.

In a statement, the party said it considered the Bill as the introduction of abortion in Malta and it therefore could never back it.

The PN leader speaking abour the party's opposition to the 'abortion' bill.

In moving this bill, the prime minister had gone back on a statement he made in January 2020 that he would oppose all those who tried to introduce abortion, the party said.

It added that its parliamentary group agreed, however, that there should be legal protection for mothers, babies in the womb and medical staff when a medical intervention was needed to save the life of the mother.  

It, therefore, agreed with the views of 81 academics issued two days ago over how the criminal code should be amended, to achieve this aim without introducing abortion.  

PL accuses the PN of partisan politics

In a reaction, the Labour Party accused the PN of partisan politics and said the only purpose of the bill is to protect mothers and doctors.

It said the position taken by the PN group was a weak one and not based on fact. "The bill does not mean what the leader of the opposition says in his recorded message," the PL said. It accused Grech of misleading the people and scaremongering about matters which were not true. 

The bill was aimed at protecting women who faced serious danger to their life and health as a result of pregnancy. All other criminal law safeguards against abortion would be retained, it insisted. 

  

 

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