‘Nothing Has Changed’: Alex Agius Saliba Confirms He Remains Against Abortion Despite Muscat’s Vision
Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba has confirmed he remains against the legalisation of abortion after Joseph Muscat strongly urged Malta to go in that direction at his campaign launch last weekend.
“There is no clarification needed. My position on abortion has always been consistent and unequivocal,” Agius Saliba told Lovin Malta.
“I have always voted and spoken openly against the legalisation of abortion in Malta. Nothing has changed from my position. At the same time, I was always respectful of different opinions in our party on the subject as my position has always been respected.”
At Agius Saliba’s campaign launch on Saturday, Muscat outlined his “ten-year vision” for Malta, that includes giving women the right to bodily autonomy.
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Although Muscat didn’t specifically mention abortion last weekend, he has confirmed he is pro-choice after resigning as Prime Minister.
“My position is that the State should not interfere and it should be solely up to the mother to decide about her pregnancy,” Muscat told Lovin Malta in 2021.
“During my time in politics and even in my last speech on leaving politics, I stated quite clearly my stand on the need to strengthen women’s rights in Malta.”
Edwin Vassallo
Former PN MP and anti-abortion campaigner Edwin Vassallo questioned whether Agius Saliba and Prime Minister Robert Abela share Muscat’s views.
“Is this what Robert Abela meant when he said he wants a progressive President?” Vassallo questioned. “Does he want a progressive President to sign an abortion bill into law?”
“While I agree with the right to bodily autonomy, I also agree that the unborn baby’s body is independent of the mother. The mother is carrying another person in the womb and has no right to kill them.”
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