Watch: ‘Immensely Satisfied’ Prime Minister Celebrates ‘Brave’ New Abortion Amendment
After Health Minister Chris Fearne presented a new amendment to Bill 28, allowing women whose “health is at grave risk” to access abortion in Malta under a number of strict conditions – Prime Minister Robert Abela spoke out about the move.
“I am immensely satisfied with the historic legislative development which we’ve had today, which proves the courage our government has had from the beginning, by saying that there is a need for reform in this area – to protect the life of a prospective mother.”
“We understood what society was ready to accept in this moment, and we had a months-long process of dialogue with all stakeholders who brought up certain thoughts” continued the Prime Minister.
“We understood and identified the point of convergence.”
Abela stated his belief that this amendment would bring Maltese abortion legislation in line with European standards.
Though abortion is not enshrined as a fundamental right within the European Convention for Human Rights, article two of the convention – the right to life.
It arguably mandates that if a pregnant person’s life is threatened unless an abortion is performed, the right is being violated.
With the approval of three doctors, Malta will now be conforming to that right.
“We couldn’t sit idly by when we realised that there would be prospective mothers in the jaws of death – just because there wasn’t legislation in place to protect them.”
Abela celebrated today’s announcement as “a very important step,” and a “big change,” which is set to challenged the “the status quo our country had been stuck in”.
Still, there was perhaps a glimmer of hope flashed for those who believe that the amendments do not go nearly far enough.
“Further action on abortion is not currently open – but the discussion is there.”
“We have to distinguish between the amendment made today and the discussion of abortion, which are two different questions.”
“That discussion needs to begin, and needs to move forward.”
Despite asserting this, though, Abela is distancing himself, and politicians in general, from the discussion he believes to be so important.
“I believe that it should not be in the hands of politicians. Let us allow society to speak. The success we achieved today came because we allowed society deliberate.”
“Then we, as a government, brought together separate pockets from society, understood everybody, and made a final decision.”
What do you make of the new amendment?
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