Italy moves towards abortion on demand

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 9

Italy moves towards abortion on demand

NZPA Rome The Italian Chamber of Deputies, the Lower Chamber of Parliament, has approved one of Europe’s most liberal abortion bills. The bill is expected to go within days to the Senate, where it faces stiff opposition, although there is a thereotical majority of three for it.

After a marathon 33-hour session marked by the exhaustion and collapse of a woman deputy, the chamber voted 308-275 for the bill, which allows women over 18 to procure free abortion in the first 90 days of pregnancy. At present, abortion is illegal for any reason.

The bill was passed despite opposition from the ruling Christian Democrat Party and a firm anti-abor-tion campaign by the Roman Catholic Church. The Christian Democrat secretar y-general (Mr Benigno Zaccagnini) said his

party opposed the bill on grounds of “moral principles” and added in apparent allusion to the kidnapped party president, Aldo Moro:

“In these dramatic days, the Christian Democrats will continue their devotion to saving the life of everyone, young or old, born or unborn, from all violence by anybody.” The bill passed after the four-member Radical Party ceased its filibuster. The Party claimed that the bill was not liberal enough. The bill would permit women to undergo abortion for physical, economic, social, or psychological reasons. She must consult a doctor and, if she wishes, her partner, but the final decision is hers in the first 90 days. After that, abortion would be allowed if a doctor finds that continued pregnancy poses serious health hazards to the woman or her baby.

The Christian Democrats managed two amendments, one an optional consultation with her partner and the other raising the abortion age from 16 to 18. A previous abortion bill, was passed last year but was turned down by the Senate, where party strengths are roughly equal but a secret-vote provision in bath Houses lets party members break ranks and vote against party directives without being noticed.

Political observers predicted a far closer race in the senate but also said the bill’s passage stands a better chance this year.

In addition to the churchbacked Christian Democrats, the extreme Rightist Italian Social Movement, and the National Democracy parties opposed the bill because of their stand against liberal abortion. The measure was favoured by all Centrist and Leftist parties, including the communists.