Smer-SD and SNS Are Working on Abortion Bill, Most-Hid Doesn't Want Changes

Bratislava, July 25 (TASR) - The proposal for changes in the law on abortion should take into account the decrease in abortions and prevent arbitrary abortions, with the Slovak National Party (SNS) and Smer-SD confirming that they are working on a specific draft, TASR learnt on Thursday. Most-Hid does not support such an initiative to change the law, stressing that it is a society-wide standard that should not be adopted during a pre-election campaign. "The bill will be discussed by the coalition, we want to take into account the fact that the number of abortions is declining because of proper use of contraception and at the same time we want to prevent arbitrary abortions. The unborn foetus in the mother's body enjoys legal protection and we must deal with the current legal situation," said SNS spokesperson Zuzana Skopcova, adding that they are preparing a specific wording of the amendment. The preparation of the proposal was also confirmed by Smer-SD spokesman Jan Mazgut. "We can confirm that a coalition draft law regulating abortions is being prepared," he told TASR, adding that details will be presented when specific wording of the law is known. A year ago Smer-SD Chairman Robert Fico disagreed with restricting a woman's right to decide whether or not she undergoes abortion by week 12. However, another coalition party Most-Hid does not want to amend the law. "Most-Hid is fundamentally opposed to calculated raising of such issues that are particularly sensitive to society. Also with regard to the fact that the number of abortions in Slovakia has been declining for a long time, we would prefer a fair society-wide debate over submitting legal norms in the pre-election period," said Most-Hid spokeswoman Klara Debnar. am/mcs