Liechtenstein’s Prince Alois vetoes abortion reform

Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois has blocked parliament-approved abortion reform by withholding his assent, leaving the country’s existing restrictions in place. The royal house confirmed the decision this week, the Guardian reported on 23 October.

Parliament narrowly approved the legislation in September after a citizens’ initiative drew more than 4,970 signatures—roughly a quarter of eligible voters. The initiative needed 1,000 signatures to reach parliament.

This is Alois’s first use of the veto. Voters overwhelmingly upheld his veto powers in a 2012 referendum.

What remains legal—and what the bill would have changed

Abortion in Liechtenstein is permitted only in limited circumstances, including when a woman’s life is at risk or a pregnancy results from rape. Since 2015, women have also been legally permitted to travel abroad to end a pregnancy.

The blocked initiative sought to decriminalise abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, provide health-insurance coverage for the procedure and repeal the nationwide ban on sharing information about abortion access.

Campaigners sought to remove barriers associated with travelling abroad, often to Austria or Switzerland. They cited costs, arranging childcare and not having a vehicle. Initiative leader Tatjana As’Ad, who works for the small leftwing Free List party, said the veto would mean abortions continued abroad rather than preventing them.

Alois leaves open a change to the information ban

The royal house said Alois considered the proposed reform incompatible with adequate protection of unborn life as a fundamental legal value.

Alois also said he was open to lifting the information ban. Such a change could allow women to consult healthcare providers about where to obtain abortions abroad and receive support afterwards. His stated willingness does not change the law: the information ban remains in force.