Alois, Crown Prince of Liechtenstein, blocked the liberalization of the abortion law

Liechtenstein’s Crown Prince Alois Philipp Maria has refused to approve legislative amendments aimed at easing the country’s strict restrictions on abortion. According to Christian Today, this decision is based on the prince’s position that protecting the lives of unborn children is a priority, and that instead of legalizing abortion, social support measures for pregnant women should be strengthened.

The proposed amendment to the Penal Code, which was passed by parliament in September by a narrow margin, would have allowed abortions during the first three months of pregnancy without the need for specific legal grounds. The bill also called for lifting bans on public advertising of abortion services. However, exercising his constitutional right to veto, Prince Alois rejected the bill, emphasizing that the reform was incompatible with ensuring adequate protection of life.

Instead of liberalizing the law, the prince called for a focus on helping women and families. The monarch’s family is already actively engaged in this area: the prince’s wife, Crown Princess Sofia, founded a foundation that provides psychological and financial assistance to pregnant women and new parents. The prince’s decision received support from the organization Right to Life UK, whose representatives called the royal family’s actions an example of combining principle with compassion.

This situation in Liechtenstein is unfolding against the backdrop of widespread debates in Europe regarding abortion legislation. Similar debates—including attempts at liberalization and countering veto threats from conservative politicians—are currently taking place in Poland and Scotland, reflecting the ongoing clash between different approaches to reproductive rights and the protection of life.