Spain's abortion reform clears first hurdle

Most controversially the draft law would allow women as young as 16 to undergo an abortion without parental consent.

Spain's proposed abortion reform cleared its first parliamentary hurdle Thursday with the rejection of four motions to block the draft law tabled by the main opposition Popular Party.

Under the reforms abortions would be allowed on demand up to the 14th week of pregnancy, and up to 22 weeks if there is a risk to the mother's health or if the foetus is deformed.

Women could also undergo the procedure after 22 weeks if the foetus has a serious or incurable illness.

Most controversially the draft law would allow women as young as 16 to undergo an abortion without parental consent.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialist Party is seven seats short of a majority in the 350-seat parliament and it relies on support from smaller regional parties to pass legislation.

Zapatero's cabinet approved the draft law at a cabinet meeting in September despite strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and the conservative Popular Party, which has said it will challenge the reforms in Spain's constitutional court if they are passed by parliament.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid on October 17 to condemn the measure in a demonstration organised by the Spanish Family Forum, a coalition of Catholic groups.

The existing law introduced in 1985, a decade after the death of right-wing dictator Francisco Franco, only allows abortion in cases of rape, foetal malformation and when a pregnant woman's mental or physical health is deemed to be at risk if the pregnancy goes to term.