Imogen CalderwoodTHOUSANDS have marched through Madrid accusing the government of betrayal, following the announcement of delays to Spain’s tough new abortion laws.
Pro-life demonstrators are taking their turn to protest – shouting ‘Yes to life, no to abortion’ – following the shelving of the highly controversial plans in the lead up to next year’s general elections.
“I voted for them and they betrayed me,” said demonstrator Iciar Gereca, 41. “Why are they holding back now? To win votes? It doesn’t make sense.”
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s ruling PP party first proposed the legislative changes in December 2013, which would drastically limit access to abortion.
Under the new law, abortion would only be allowed if the pregnancy posed a risk to the health of the mother, if the foetus was severely deformed, or if the pregnancy was the result of rape.
The proposed changes caused outrage, with marches across Spain and sympathy marches throughout Europe.
