Liechtenstein prince vetoes abortion bill

Liechtenstein's Hereditary Prince Alois vetoed a bill on Tuesday that would have legalized abortion during the first 12 weeks of a woman's pregnancy, blocking a citizens' initiative co-signed by a quarter of voters and passed in the micro-state's parliament.

Performing an abortion is currently illegal in the principality, unless the pregnancy presents a severe risk to the pregnant woman's health or if it is the result of a sexual assault. Women seeking an abortion usually travel to clinics in neighboring Austria or Switzerland, which campaigners say adds uncertainty and an unnecessary financial hurdle to the process.

The bill was introduced by the Fristenlösung citizens' initiative, which collected almost 5,000 signatures — about a quarter of the state's registered voters. It proposed decriminalizing abortion up to 12 weeks' gestation, and to lift a ban on providing information about abortion.

The bill "is not suitable for adequately protecting unborn life as a central legal interest," a statement from the princely house reads. Alois had already indicated in June he would veto the proposal on these grounds.

"We're disappointed, but not really surprised," Tatjana As'Ad, a campaigner for the initiative and a co-managing director for the Free List, Liechtenstein's progressive opposition party, told POLITICO. "It was clear his decision was fixed in June and that there was no way we would change it." She added campaigners met Alois on Tuesday morning, but that there was no indication he would announce his veto shortly after.

"We are frustrated because it feels like everything we did since June was decorative," As'Ad said.

Liechtenstein, a small Alpine principality of about 40,000 people, has an atypical political system associating referendum-led direct democracy with a monarchy where the reigning prince retains extensive executive powers. Alois's absolute veto right was itself confirmed by a 2012 referendum. He used it for the first time to block the abortion bill.

"The promise of dualism" between democracy and the monarchy "that the Liechtensteiners are trusting has got some cracks," As'Ad said.

She added that the parliament's decision to vote through the bill and send it directly to Alois for assent, instead of calling for a referendum, "spared" the hereditary prince from a "conflict" with his people.

She said her campaign's biggest win was a clarification from Liechtenstein's government that the ban on "information" about abortion was in effect a ban on "advertising" the practice.

"In the end, everything is going to be the same," she said. "Women affected are still here. There is a majority in favor and it's still here. Abortions are still going to happen, and [Alois] just decided where they would be going to happen."

Liechtenstein's princely house did not immediately respond to a request for comment.