PORTUGAL TO DECRIMINALIZE ABORTION

UNCLAS LISBON 000393 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PO KWMN PREL SOCI SUBJECT: PORTUGAL TO DECRIMINALIZE ABORTION REF: LISBON 330 ¶1. On February 11, Portuguese citizens voted in favor of a referendum question to decriminalize abortion by a strong majority (reftel). The referendum question (informal translation) was: "Do you agree with decriminalizing the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, occurring in the first ten weeks at the choice of the woman at legally authorized health establishments?" The Government of Portugal (GOP) now plans to introduce legislation implementing the language of the referendum, and liberalizing restrictions currently among the most stringent in Europe. ¶2. Prime Minister Socrates, who campaigned on the promise to hold such a referendum, told his Socialist Party (PS) members that they should "vote their conscience" even though he and the party structures openly supported a "yes" vote. Although turnout represented only 43 percent of the electorate, the "yes" vote tallied 59.75 percent of votes cast. The results bore a close resemblance to recent polling data. The populous Lisbon area supported the "yes" vote by over 70 percent, while the rural, more conservative northern areas of the country supported the "no" vote by over 70 percent. ¶3. Comment: Although the turnout fell below the 50 percent needed to make the results binding, the Prime Minister only needed a "yes" victory for political cover as he was reluctant to pass a law on such a controversial topic without a clear mandate. The PS leadership hailed the outcome, underscoring that it would ensure Portugal's move toward modernity and place it among the world's contemporary democracies. The referendum results reflect geographic and socio-economic divisions in Portugal rather than a difference between political parties. Observers predict that the GOP will introduce legislation quickly, with a new law scheduled to take effect in calendar year 2008. Passage is a certainty, given the absolute majority the PS retains in the National Assembly. Hoffman