Hereditary Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein exercised his constitutional veto on a bill that would have removed legal protections for unborn babies and permitted abortion on demand up to the end of the third month of pregnancy. The decision, announced in late March, marks the first time the prince has used this power during his reign.
The proposed legislation, which narrowly passed in the Landtag by a single vote (13 to 12), sought to amend the Criminal Code to make abortion legal when performed by a doctor within the first three months of pregnancy, regardless of the reason. Under current law, Liechtenstein already has some of the strongest protections for unborn life in Europe, allowing abortion only in limited circumstances such as when the mother’s life is at serious risk.
In a statement, the princely house said the prince believed the reform was incompatible with adequate protection of unborn life. He added that many people share the goal of providing the best possible support to women in difficult situations while safeguarding unborn life.
Prince Alois highlighted his family’s long‑standing commitment to supporting pregnant women through the Sophie von Liechtenstein Foundation, founded by his wife, Hereditary Princess Sophie. The foundation has worked for years to provide assistance to mothers and their families before, during, and after pregnancy.
While the bill’s supporters argued that abortion would become available on demand for any reason during the period when most abortions occur in other countries, the prince’s veto underscores a preference for protecting unborn life and strengthening support systems for mothers.
Source: Gateway News
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