Partit Demokratiku Candidate Goes Against Party’s Abortion Line And Comes Out As Pro-Choice
Partit Demokratiku MEP candidate Camilla Appelgren has come out in favour of the legalisation of abortion under certain circumstances in a pro-choice move that goes against her party line.
“I have an official stand as pro-prevention when it comes to abortion,” Appelgren said. “This means that I will work relentlessly to prevent a woman from ever being put in a situation where she needs an abortion, because I believe that no woman enjoy going through one. No one is pro-abortion according to my belief.”
“But I also acknowledge that abortions will happen, with no laws or with laws banning it. I believe that outright bans won’t mean that abortions won’t happen in the world, hence I am for abortions to be performed under certain circumstances.”
Appelgren took to social media to clarify her position after the Partit Demokratiku, along with the Nationalist Party and the Moviment Patrijotti Maltin, pledged to sign a declaration by pro-life activists in favour of entrenching Malta’s abortion ban into the Constitution.
“The Democratic Party is in favour of life from conception to death,” PD leader Godfrey Farrugia said. “We are against the killing of babies in the womb and of all human beings at any stage of their life.”
However, Appelgren said that she has a right to have her own view on abortion and that she is “fully respected” for her view.
Lambasting Ivan Grech Mintoff and Simon Debono, two of the pro-life activists behind the declaration, as “patriarchal fundamentalists”, Appelgren said that she identifies herself as a liberal.
PD leader Godfrey Farrugia said his party is in favour of life from conception to death
“PD has no whip, since PD believes in finding common ground,” she said. “I as a member have the right to have my own view on abortion and am fully respected for my view.”
The Malta Clean-Up activist reiterated her pledge not to campaign for the legalisation of abortion in Malta if she is elected to the European Parliament this week.
“Last but not least… I am an ENVIRONMENTALIST, non-Maltese EU citizen running for the MEP elections,” she said. “The abortion topic is NOT on my agenda, never was and never will be. It is a local topic and I am for it to be just that. My main topic will remain the environment and to safeguard it for the human beings walking on earth.”
“This election, which is a European Parliament elections has been entirely hijacked by the abortion debate on either side. This is incredibly disappointing and a disservice to the people of Malta. They should be voting for the European elections. Instead, our political and local discourse has turned it into a debate on a local issue, and many are treating this as a referendum on abortion.”
“Let me reiterate: An MEP has no say in abortion in Malta. An MEP has no place to discuss abortion in Malta as he or she has no say in it. An MEP is there to serve the people, not a political party. I will NOT comment further on this topic.”
Cover photo: Cami Appelgren (right) during a Partit Demokratiku meeting
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