Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s far-right-led government achieved a win on Tuesday as the Senate approved legislation granting anti-abortion groups access to women considering terminating their pregnancies.
This development reignites tensions surrounding abortion in Italy, 46 years after its legalisation in the predominantly Catholic nation.
The Senate, where the government holds a majority, voted 95-68, giving final approval to legislation linked to European Union COVID-19 recovery funds, which included an amendment sponsored by Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party.
The law, previously passed by the lower Chamber of Deputies, permits regions to authorise groups “with qualified experience supporting motherhood” to access public support centers where women considering abortions receive counselling.
For the right, the amendment aligns with the original intent of the 1978 law legalising abortion, known as Law 194, which includes provisions to prevent the procedure and support motherhood.
However, the left-wing opposition sees it as eroding abortion rights, a concern they had voiced following Meloni’s 2022 election victory.
Cecilia D’Elia, a Democratic Party senator, highlighted this sentiment at a protest against the legislation, stating, “The government claims they do not want to interfere with Law 194, but the reality is that the right opposes women’s reproductive autonomy and fears their choices regarding motherhood, sexuality, and abortion.”
Under the 1978 law, Italy permits abortion on request during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, or later if a woman’s health or life is at risk.
The law also establishes publicly funded counselling centres to inform pregnant women of their rights and available services if they choose to terminate their pregnancies.
However, access to abortion is not always straightforward. The law allows healthcare personnel to declare conscientious objection and refuse to perform abortions, leading to situations where women must travel long distances to access the procedure.
While Giorgia Meloni campaigned on a platform of “God, fatherland, and family”, she has asserted that she does not intend to roll back the 1978 law but rather aims to ensure its full implementation.
Nevertheless, she has also emphasised the importance of encouraging women to have children to address Italy’s demographic challenges.
Italy’s birthrate, already among the lowest globally, has been declining steadily for approximately 15 years, hitting a record low last year with only 379,000 babies born.
Giorgia Meloni’s conservative coalition, strongly supported by the Vatican, has launched a campaign to encourage a minimum of 500,000 births annually by 2033.
Demographers argue that such a rate is essential to prevent the economy from buckling under the strain of Italy’s aging population.
Meloni has dismissed left-wing opposition to the proposed amendment as “fake news”, pointing out that Law 194 already includes provisions for preventing abortions, such as counseling pregnant women about alternatives.
The amendment specifically permits anti-abortion groups or groups advocating for motherhood to participate as volunteers in counselling centers.
“I believe we must ensure freedom of choice,” Meloni recently stated.
“To ensure freedom of choice, all information and opportunities must be available. That’s what Law 194 provides.”
Ripples across Europe
The recent tensions surrounding abortion in Italy contrast with developments elsewhere in Europe.
France enshrined the right to abortion in its constitution on International Women’s Day, while predominantly Catholic Malta eased its strict abortion laws last year.
In Poland, lawmakers are considering lifting a near-total ban on abortion imposed by the previous right-wing government.
Concerns among Italy’s left-wing stem from the fear of following the trajectory of the U.S., where states are imposing restrictions on abortion following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn landmark legislation guaranteeing nationwide access to abortion.
Elly Schlein, leader of Italy’s opposition Democratic Party, emphasised the need for establishing a mandatory percentage of doctors willing to perform abortions in public hospitals during a women’s conference on Tuesday, highlighting that without such measures, abortion rights could remain theoretical.
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