Liechtenstein prince uses veto for first time to block abortion reform

Liechtenstein's hereditary prince, Alois, has used his veto for the first time in his reign to block a bill that would have moved the Alpine principality's abortion laws closer to those of much of Europe. Parliament had approved the legislation last month, after a citizens' initiative signed by roughly a quarter of the country's voters was sent to the legislature.

The royal house confirmed the decision this week, saying Alois would "withhold his sanction from the bill". It added: "Following careful consideration, he remains convinced that the proposed reform is not compatible with ensuring adequate protection of unborn life as a fundamental legal value." The royal house did not respond to a further request for comment from the Guardian.

What the bill proposed

Launched in February, the initiative gathered more than 4,970 signatures – far beyond the 1,000 needed to reach parliament. It sought to decriminalise abortion up to 12 weeks, have the procedure covered by health insurance and repeal a nationwide ban on sharing information about abortion access.

Abortion in Liechtenstein is permitted only in limited circumstances, including when a woman's life is at risk or when a pregnancy results from rape. Since 2015, women have been legally allowed to travel abroad to terminate a pregnancy, often to neighbouring Austria or Switzerland. Campaigners say the obstacles include cost, arranging childcare and having no vehicle.

An August poll suggested 62% of voters supported reforming the law.

'Surreal'

Campaigners said they were dismayed but not entirely surprised. "We're not really surprised, but still disappointed," said Tatjana As'Ad, who led the initiative and works for the small leftwing party Free List, describing the situation as "surreal" in a state in the middle of Europe in 2026. She said the veto would do little to stop abortions happening: "The veto just means they will continue to take place abroad."

Monarchy's powers

The committee behind the initiative said a single individual was overriding a decision initiated by almost a quarter of eligible voters and passed by parliament. It noted that Alois had only threatened to veto legislation twice before, both times over the legalisation of abortion, referring to a 2011 pronouncement, and that this was the first time he had actually exercised the veto. "The conclusion is clear: when it comes to abortion, there is only one decision-maker," the committee said.

Gabriella Alvarez-Hummel, a journalist and one of the campaigners, pointed to the monarchy's broad powers: the ruling prince can appoint judges and dismiss the government or individual ministers. "He has a veto over everything, really," she said. In 2012, voters overwhelmingly backed his veto powers in a referendum that was seen at the time as a proxy debate on whether Liechtenstein should keep its monarchy.

Alvarez-Hummel called the decision "very troubling", noting that Liechtenstein was the last country in Europe to grant women the vote in national elections, in 1984. "Liechtenstein has a history of being the last when it comes to women's rights," she said. "I had hoped that we wouldn't be the last in abortion rights as well, but it doesn't look good at the moment."

She said the campaign had nonetheless chalked up some successes, chipping away at the decades-long taboo around discussing the topic in the country. Alois said in his statement that he was open to lifting the ban on information about abortion, suggesting women might one day be able to ask their healthcare provider where to access the procedure abroad and receive support afterwards.

Even so, Alvarez-Hummel worried that the estimated 40 women a year who travel abroad for the procedure would now face greater stigma and more deeply entrenched taboos. "You live in a country where it is forbidden, where the prince who lives in a castle made sure it stayed forbidden," she said. "The one time he used his veto was against this – I can only imagine how difficult it must be for them to know this."

Source: The Guardian.