2007 Portuguese abortion referendum

An abortion referendum took place in Portugal on 11 February 2007, to decide whether to legalise abortion up to ten weeks. The referendum was the fulfillment of an election pledge by the governing Socialist Party of Prime Minister José Sócrates.

Official results of the referendum showed that 59.24 percent of the Portuguese approved the proposal put on ballot, while 40.76 percent rejected it. However, only 43.61 percent of the registered voters turned out to vote. Since voter turnout was below 50 percent, according to the Portuguese Constitution, these results are not legally binding, and parliament can legally decide to disregard them. Prime Minister Sócrates nevertheless confirmed that he would expand the circumstances under which abortion was allowed, since a majority of voters had been in favour.

The law was ratified by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva on 10 April 2007.

Question
The question in the referendum was:

"'Are you in agreement with the decriminalization of the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, if carried out, by the woman's choice, in the first ten weeks in a legally authorized health institution?'"

"'Concorda com a despenalização da interrupção voluntária da gravidez, se realizada, por opção da mulher, nas 10 primeiras semanas, em estabelecimento de saúde legalmente autorizado?'"

Under the current law, abortions are allowed up 12 weeks if the mother's life or mental or physical health is at risk, up to 16 weeks in cases of rape and up to 24 weeks if the child may be born with an incurable disease or deformity. The new law, approved on 9 March 2007, allows abortions on request up to the tenth week.

Political positions
The major parties in Portugal listed with their political positioning and their official answer to the referendum question:


 * Left
 * Portuguese Communist Party – YES
 * Left Bloc – YES
 * Ecologist Party "The Greens" – YES
 * Socialist Party – YES
 * Right
 * Social Democratic Party – NEUTRAL (the party was divided, however, important members, including the then leader, Luís Marques Mendes, said NO)
 * People's Party – NO

Opinion polling
A December 2006 Aximage/Correio da Manhã poll had found that 61 percent of Portugal's electorate supported the proposal, 26 percent did not, and 12 percent were "not sure". An earlier survey from October 2006 had yielded similar results. However, a poll from mid-January 2007 had seen support drop to 38 to 28 percent in favour.

History
In 1998 the same question had been put in another referendum. In this case a small majority voted no and the law was not implemented.