The Italian Parliament approved this Tuesday (23) a law that allows pro-life associations to enter abortion clinics in the country.
The Senate gave the green light, with a score of 95 votes in favor, 68 against and one abstention, to the so-called “PNRR Decree”, a broad legislative text with allocations of European funds from the so-called Pandemic Recovery Plan, in which the initiative is included .
The decree, defended by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and presented as a motion to the government, a common strategy in the Italian Parliament to speed up the approval of laws and prevent the examination of amendments, had already received approval from the Chamber of Deputies last week. He was the target of an intense debate among deputies, which was repeated today in the Senate.
The decree allows groups that support motherhood to enter abortion clinics, where they can provide counseling to women who are there with the aim of terminating their pregnancies.
The text of the decree, presented by deputy Lorenzo Malagola, from Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, says that “the regions will organize consultancy services […] and they will be able to use, without new or greater charges for public accounts, the involvement of Third Sector agents with qualified experience in maternity support”.
Prime Minister Meloni's party recalled that the decree aims to give women an opportunity for reflection before making a final decision about their pregnancy and that it does not “affect their rights”.
In Italy, abortion was legalized in 1978, under law 194, which allows the procedure to be carried out up to 90 days of pregnancy.
Women opting for the procedure must have a certificate issued by a health authority, which may include family planning clinics. This certificate must detail the reason why the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman's health.
The decree provoked a confrontation a few days ago between Meloni and the Minister of Equality of Spain's socialist government, Ana Redondo, who criticized her on social media.
Meloni, a strong pro-life advocate, responded that “on several occasions I have heard foreign ministers speak about internal Italian issues without knowing the facts. Normally, when you don't know a subject, you should have the good habit of not giving lessons.” (With EFE Agency)
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