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‘Istħu’: Rebecca Buttigieg Calls Out Female PN MPs For Supporting Bernard Grech’s ‘Insensitive’ Abortion Speech

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Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg has called out female PN MPs for supporting Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech’s abortion speech in Parliament.

Earlier this week, the Opposition Leader gave a parliamentary speech where he attempted to ridicule Andrea Prudente’s unfortunate miscarriage. This has now been at the centre of criticism, with many labeling the speech as “misogynistic”.

“As much as I am disgusted with his speech, I am as disgusted with the women banging on the parliament tables in support of such a speech. Istħu!” Buttigieg said on social media. 

Buttigieg also described Grech’s speech as “insensitive” and continued to say that such words only ridicule the women that would come to need such an intervention that could symbolise life or death.

“Is this the message we want to send out? This is how we will be of support for women that have passed through a traumatic experience?” she questioned.

During the speech, Grech also mocked Andrea Prudente’s surname, saying that even though her surname is Prudente, “the doctors were more prudent than her”. 

He also attempted to cast doubt on her version of events, saying that “after traveling for 20 hours, she came here and wanted an abortion” when really the situation was that she had to have the baby removed after she miscarried.

Prudente and her partner Jay Weeldreyer traveled to Malta last summer for what they described as a babymoon, a term for a couple’s celebratory holiday before the birth of a new baby.

She suffered a miscarriage when she was 16 weeks pregnant, rendering her pregnancy unviable, but was denied an abortion after doctors ascertained that her life wasn’t at immediate risk. She was at this point at risk of septic shock.

She ended up being airlifted to Spain to get an abortion and later filed a constitutional case against Malta, arguing that the country’s strict abortion laws breached her human rights.

This week, she also filed two libel cases against Jason Azzopardi and Simon Mercieca, following claims that were made by the two that discredited her story.

Did you find Bernard Grech’s speech to be insensitive?

READ NEXT: Traumatised Women Will Never Forget Bernard Grech’s ‘Misogynistic’ Speech, PL MP Warns

Sasha is a writer, creator, and podcast host interested in environmental matters, humans, and art. Some know her as Sasha tas-Sigar. Inspired by nature and the changing world. Follow her on Instagram at @saaxhaa and send her your stories at [email protected]

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