The regent of Liechtenstein used his veto right after 22 years to block an important law.

The Prince Regent of Liechtenstein used his right to veto after 22 years to block an important law Prince Alois, the heir to the throne and regent of Liechtenstein, exercised his veto against the legalization of abortion, AFP agency reports Friday, cited by Agerpres. It is extremely rare for the prince regent of the small principality to use this right, considered a last resort option. The Vaduz Parliament voted last month to decriminalize pregnancy terminations for reasons other than exceptional ones (danger to the mother's life or pregnancy resulting from rape). According to the new law, rejected by the regent, abortions are permitted in the first trimester of pregnancy. An academic paper from 2024 showed that since 2004, the year he became regent, Prince Alois had only threatened twice with exercising his veto and had never ultimately used it. His predecessors also used it extremely rarely or not at all. His father, Prince Hans-Adam II, never used it. As a prince, he is nominally the head of state, but the constitution of the small principality grants the heir regent the right to veto. Current legislation in Liechtenstein prohibits abortions in general; those who provide assistance for termination of pregnancy can be punished with three years in prison, and women who induce an abortion themselves – with one year. Offers of services for abortion or promotion of this procedure are also forbidden. Liechtenstein does not punish abortions abroad. How Prince Alois explains the decision to use the veto The princely house communicated that Prince Alois "remains convinced that a system like the one based on terms does not allow ensuring appropriate protection for unborn life, considered an essential legal good." Despite the veto, Prince Alois appreciated that regulations can evolve through "targeted measures," such as eliminating advertising bans or through support services for women before, during, and after pregnancy. "I am sure that many share the desire to provide the best support to women in difficult situations while protecting unborn life," he stated. The prince had to either promulgate the law or reject it by veto within six months of the parliament's vote on September 2. The committee that promoted the new legislation, having gathered enough signatures to send the draft law to parliament, noted that approximately 45 women in Liechtenstein are in a situation to resort to abortion annually, with the principality having 40,000 inhabitants. A statement from the committee expressed regret that "a single person overrides a decision initiated by almost one quarter of voters and adopted by parliament." The committee considers that "this action resembles a show of force against the concerned individuals" and called for a demonstration on Saturday in Vaduz. In 2011, 52.3% of Liechtenstein voters rejected the legalization of abortions; the government and parliament at the time were also opposed to pregnancy terminations.