Read Next
Guest Column
Residents of Seminole in Texas head to polls to consider ‘Sanctuary for the Unborn’ Ordinance
Mark Lee Dickson
·Spotlight Articles
International·By Bridget Sielicki
Abortion supporters 'disappointed' as Liechtenstein's prince vetoes abortion bill
Liechtenstein's Hereditary Prince Alois has vetoed legislation that would have allowed abortions through 12 weeks of gestation. The veto means that abortion will remain illegal in the small European nation.
Hereditary Prince Alois has refused to approve a bill that would have legalized abortion through 12 weeks in Liechtenstein.
The bill passed parliament in a 13-12 vote last month, but cannot proceed without Alois' approval.
Abortion remains legal only in cases of severe risk to the mother's health, or sexual assault.
Currently, most preborn children in the nation of 40,000 are protected from abortion, as abortion is only permitted in cases of severe risk to the woman's health or if is a result of a sexual assault. Advertising abortion is also prohibited.
Last month, the nation's parliament approved a bill that would have legalized abortion and would have allowed for abortion advertising, narrowly passing on a 13-12 vote. Under the bill, abortions would be legal through the first trimester of pregnancy.
The legislation followed a citizens’ referendum initiative which garnered 4,970 signatures — roughly a quarter of the nation’s voters.
Hereditary Prince Alois announced Tuesday that he was withholding his approval of the legislation. Because laws in the nation can only pass with his say so, the attempt to legalize abortion fails.
In a statement, he said "he remains convinced that the proposed reform is not compatible with ensuring adequate protection of unborn life as a fundamental legal value."
“I am convinced that many people share the objective of providing the best possible support to women in difficult situations while at the same time protecting unborn life,” he added.
He also noted that he "supports efforts to improve information, counselling and support for women before, during and after pregnancy."
This marks the first time Alois has used his veto power during his reign.
Abortion activists are unhappy, while unsurprised by the decision. As reported by The Guardian:
The news left campaigners in the principality, home to some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, reeling. “We’re not really surprised, but still disappointed,” said Tatjana As’Ad, who led the initiative to overhaul the law and who works for the small leftwing party, Free List. “It’s surreal what’s happening right now in 2026 in a state in the middle of Europe.”
The veto would do little to actually prevent abortions from taking place, she said. “Liechtenstein will continue to have a situation where abortions are banned, but we know they’re happening. The veto just means they will continue to take place abroad.”
Let's apply this logic generally: Homicide is illegal, yet it still takes place. It will likely continue to take place. However, this doesn't mean the government should decriminalize it and make it legal simply because it continues to take place. Protecting human life is an important and legitimate function of government.
All preborn children deserve to be fully protected from the evils of abortion, regardless of the nation where their mother resides.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Mark Lee Dickson
·
International
Bridget Sielicki
·
Human Interest
Angeline Tan
·
International
Bridget Sielicki
·
International
Bridget Sielicki
·
Issues
Nancy Flanders
·
Human Interest
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·
Human Interest
Bridget Sielicki
·International·By Bridget Sielicki
Abortion supporters 'disappointed' as Liechtenstein's prince vetoes abortion bill
Liechtenstein's Hereditary Prince Alois has vetoed legislation that would have allowed abortions through 12 weeks of gestation. The veto means that abortion will remain illegal in the small European nation.
Hereditary Prince Alois has refused to approve a bill that would have legalized abortion through 12 weeks in Liechtenstein.
The bill passed parliament in a 13-12 vote last month, but cannot proceed without Alois' approval.
Abortion remains legal only in cases of severe risk to the mother's health, or sexual assault.
Currently, most preborn children in the nation of 40,000 are protected from abortion, as abortion is only permitted in cases of severe risk to the woman's health or if is a result of a sexual assault. Advertising abortion is also prohibited.
Last month, the nation's parliament approved a bill that would have legalized abortion and would have allowed for abortion advertising, narrowly passing on a 13-12 vote. Under the bill, abortions would be legal through the first trimester of pregnancy.
The legislation followed a citizens’ referendum initiative which garnered 4,970 signatures — roughly a quarter of the nation’s voters.
Hereditary Prince Alois announced Tuesday that he was withholding his approval of the legislation. Because laws in the nation can only pass with his say so, the attempt to legalize abortion fails.
In a statement, he said "he remains convinced that the proposed reform is not compatible with ensuring adequate protection of unborn life as a fundamental legal value."
“I am convinced that many people share the objective of providing the best possible support to women in difficult situations while at the same time protecting unborn life,” he added.
He also noted that he "supports efforts to improve information, counselling and support for women before, during and after pregnancy."
This marks the first time Alois has used his veto power during his reign.
Abortion activists are unhappy, while unsurprised by the decision. As reported by The Guardian:
The news left campaigners in the principality, home to some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, reeling. “We’re not really surprised, but still disappointed,” said Tatjana As’Ad, who led the initiative to overhaul the law and who works for the small leftwing party, Free List. “It’s surreal what’s happening right now in 2026 in a state in the middle of Europe.”
The veto would do little to actually prevent abortions from taking place, she said. “Liechtenstein will continue to have a situation where abortions are banned, but we know they’re happening. The veto just means they will continue to take place abroad.”
Let's apply this logic generally: Homicide is illegal, yet it still takes place. It will likely continue to take place. However, this doesn't mean the government should decriminalize it and make it legal simply because it continues to take place. Protecting human life is an important and legitimate function of government.
All preborn children deserve to be fully protected from the evils of abortion, regardless of the nation where their mother resides.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Mark Lee Dickson
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·Human Interest
Angeline Tan
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·Issues
Nancy Flanders
·Human Interest
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·Human Interest
Bridget Sielicki
·