President Zapatero has clarified his position on the reform of the 1985 Spanish Abortion Law after indicating at the weekend that the PSOE would include it in their manifesto for next March's general election. Instead, Mr Zapatero explained yesterday, it is necessary for the current legislation and how it is currently being applied, to be reassessed.

Eva Rodríguez, who is the president of an association representing 31 accredited abortion clinics, said that her members would be "delighted" if the law was brought into line with legislation throughout the rest of Europe, which is something "we have been demanding for years" as this would "give rights to women."

For their part, the parliamentary spokesman for the United Left (IU) coalition said that they would continue to campaign for the right of women to end a pregnancy voluntarily during the first twelve weeks, if and when it supposes a "social, personal or family" conflict for the mother.

Rajoy rules out abortion law change
By: thinkSPAIN
Tuesday, December 18, 2007

PP opposition leader, Mariano Rajoy, has said that his party has no plans to modify the Abortion Law that was approved in 1985.

Speaking at a breakfast press conference this morning, Mr Rajoy was responding to comments made recently by president Zapatero, who has indicated that, if re-elected, the government would consider an amendment that would bring Spanish legislation into line with the majority of other European countries where abortions can be performed free during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.