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Uruguay parliament fails to override presidential veto of abortion bill

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Uruguayan Parliament on Thursday failed to override the presidential veto of a bill that would have decriminalized abortion. In the special meeting of the General Assembly, Uruguayan representatives and senators failed to achieve the requisite three-fifths majority in each house to override a veto by President Tabare Vazquez. The bill had passed the Senate and the Representatives Chamber earlier this month, but did not receive enough votes to overcome the veto. A recent poll by Factum consultants, made public on Friday, reported that 56 percent of the population was in favor of decriminalizing abortion, and 35 percent were against it. Nine percent declined to answer. There have been two prior efforts to decriminalize abortion in Uruguay in recent years. With the exception of Cuba, abortion is restricted across Latin American countries, and only a few have passed legislation partially decriminalizing it in some, usually extenuating, circumstances.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on November 21, 2008 (boomark / email).