Catholic Portugal Votes to Allow Abortion in Early Pregnancy

Portugal yesterday voted to sweep away centuries of moral domination by the Roman Catholic church in a referendum allowing the government to reform one of Europe's most restrictive abortion laws.

After weeks of impassioned public debate over the issue, more than 59% of those voting backed a proposal to permit abortion on demand during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.

The result was a victory for the Socialist prime minister, Jose Socrates, who took on not just the conservative opposition but some in his own party by calling for change to the current law, under which women face up to three years in jail for aborting.

Although the 44% turnout was below the 50% level at which referendums in Portugal become legally binding, Mr Socrates was expected to press ahead with a law in the next few months.

A change will see Portugal leave the small club of European countries, which includes Ireland, Poland and Malta, that either ban or severely restrict abortion.

Voters braved stormy weather to cast their balllots. Some 90% of Portuguese describe themselves as Roman Catholics, but that did not stop many rebelling against doctrine yesterday.

Others did not."I voted against legalising abortion because I believe it will normalise the practice," said Marta Paselar, as she left a Lisbon voting booth with her husband. "I still hope the 'no' side wins."

Laurinda Duarte, on her way to church in Lisbon yesterday, said: "I voted yes and will always vote yes. Abortions will always take place, so why not vote to allow women to carry them out under decent conditions? I am a Catholic, but that does not mean I am not free to vote."

The referendum was called by Mr Socrates, who campaigned to change the law whereby up to an estimated 40,000 Portuguese women each year risk jail or travel abroad in order to have an abortion. He argued that back street abortions proved prohibition did not work and were a serious threat to women's health. "This is Portugal's most shameful wound," he said before the vote.

Women who abort can be jailed for up to three years in Portugal. Recent trials have seen judges hand down suspended prison sentences, although those who carry out the abortions still go to jail.

Campaigners for change say the experience of being put on trial adds further suffering and humiliation to those who have gone through the difficult and painful experience of an abortion.