Liechtenstein's prince vetoes law legalizing abortion
Alois uses his formal veto for the first time as regent. Parliament passed the reform 13-12, and backers have called a march in Vaduz.
Crown Prince Alois of Liechtenstein vetoed the legalization of abortion that Parliament passed in early September. Without his signature the law cannot take effect, so abortion remains banned in the principality, with limited exceptions.
Liechtenstein, an Alpine principality of about 40,000 people between Switzerland and Austria, is one of the few European monarchies whose sovereign can block a law simply by refusing to sign it. Alois exercises that power as regent for his father, and it is the first time he has used it formally.
The reform would have allowed abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The Landtag, the 25-member Parliament, passed it 13-12 and declined to put it to a referendum. The initiative had gathered nearly 5,000 signatures when 1,000 were enough.
The princely house argues that a time-limit system "is not suitable for protecting unborn life as a central legal interest." Alois says he is open to other reforms: he would accept allowing information about abortion and proposes more support for pregnant women.
To the law's backers, organized in the committee "Fristenlösung für Liechtenstein," the veto is a "show of power at the expense of those affected." Since 2015, women in the principality can have abortions abroad without penalty, and the backers estimate that about 40 do so each year.
It is not an isolated case among small royal houses. In 2025, Prince Albert II of Monaco also refused to sign a law that expanded access to abortion, despite the backing of the National Council.
The committee called a demonstration in Vaduz for Saturday.
