Politics · Other · 9 hrs ago
Liechtenstein prince vetoes plan to allow early abortions
Hereditary Prince Alois vetoed a plan to legalize early abortions in Liechtenstein, so the current ban remains in place.
The country’s parliament had narrowly backed allowing abortions during the first three months of pregnancy, in a vote of 13 to 12.
The proposal began as a public initiative that gathered nearly 5,000 signatures, but parliament rejected holding a public vote on it.
The prince said the change would not adequately protect unborn life, while the initiative committee criticized his veto and said it denied women control over their decisions.
Since 2015, women from Liechtenstein have been able to travel abroad for abortions without facing prosecution.
The prince is open to other changes, including ending the ban on advertising abortion services and improving information and support for women.
The initiative committee plans a demonstration in Vaduz on Saturday as part of wider actions against the veto.
Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois vetoed a parliamentary plan to allow abortions during the first three months of pregnancy.
The plan was backed by 13 votes to 12 in the parliament in early September.
The prince said a time-limit rule would not adequately protect unborn life.
Abortions remain prohibited in Liechtenstein, though women have been able to travel abroad for them without penalty since 2015.
The initiative committee condemned the veto and said it planned actions, including a demonstration in Vaduz.
- Who
- Hereditary Prince Alois vetoed the plan. The initiative committee supporting the change criticised the veto.
- What
- A plan to allow abortions in the first three months of pregnancy was vetoed.
- When
- The veto was reported on October 21, 2026; parliament backed the plan in early September.
- Where
- Liechtenstein.
- Why
- The prince said a time-limit rule would not adequately protect unborn life.
Hereditary Prince Alois
Fristenlösung für Liechtenstein” initiative committee
Aspect
Hereditary Prince Alois
He said a time-limit rule was not suitable for protecting unborn life as a central legal interest.
Fristenlösung für Liechtenstein” initiative committee
The committee said the veto denied women self-determination and imposed a moral belief through state power.
Aspect
Hereditary Prince Alois
The princely house said he was open to easing the current rules, including lifting the advertising ban on abortions.
Fristenlösung für Liechtenstein” initiative committee
The committee called the veto a demonstration of power and said the parliamentary process had been disregarded.
Liechtenstein women became able to travel abroad for abortions without penalty.
Parliament backed the time-limit initiative by 13 votes to 12 and rejected putting the question to a public vote.
The princely house announced that Hereditary Prince Alois had vetoed the plan.
The initiative committee said a demonstration was planned in Vaduz.
- Parliament vote
- 13 to 12 in favour of the initiative
- Proposed time limit
- Abortions allowed during the first three months of pregnancy
- Signatures collected
- Nearly 5,000; 1,000 were required
- Public vote
- Parliament rejected holding one
- Demonstration
- Planned for Vaduz on the Saturday after the veto announcement