2007 Portuguese abortion referendum explained

Are you in agreement with the decriminalization of the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, if carried out, by the woman's choice, in the first ten weeks in a legally authorized health institution?
Date:11 February 2007
Country:Portugal
Yes:2231529
No:1534669
Invalid:73978
Electorate:8814016
Map Size:250px

An abortion referendum took place in Portugal on 11 February 2007, to decide whether to legalise abortion up to ten weeks. The referendum was the fulfillment of an election pledge by the governing Socialist Party of Prime Minister José Sócrates.[1]

Official results of the referendum showed that 59.24 percent of the Portuguese approved the proposal put on ballot, while 40.76 percent rejected it. However, only 43.61 percent of the registered voters turned out to vote. Since voter turnout was below 50 percent, according to the Portuguese Constitution, these results are not legally binding, and parliament can legally decide to disregard them. Prime Minister Sócrates nevertheless confirmed that he would expand the circumstances under which abortion was allowed, since a majority of voters had been in favour.[1]

The law was ratified by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva on 10 April 2007.[2]

Question

The question in the referendum was:

Under the current law, abortions are allowed up 12 weeks if the mother's life or mental or physical health is at risk, up to 16 weeks in cases of rape and up to 24 weeks if the child may be born with an incurable disease or deformity. The new law, approved on 9 March 2007, allows abortions on request up to the tenth week.[3]

Political positions

The major parties in Portugal listed with their political positioning and their official answer to the referendum question:

Opinion polling

A December 2006 Aximage/Correio da Manhã poll had found that 61 percent of Portugal's electorate supported the proposal, 26 percent did not, and 12 percent were "not sure".[4] An earlier survey from October 2006 had yielded similar results.[5] However, a poll from mid-January 2007 had seen support drop to 38 to 28 percent in favour.[6]

Last day pollingPoll sourceSample sizeDirect Intention of VoteValid Vote
YesNoUndecidedLeadYesNoLead
11 FebReferendum results43.6%59.340.718.6
11 FebUniversidade Católica57.0–61.039.0–43.018.0
11 FebEurosondagem58.0–61.838.2–42.019.8
11 FebINTERCAMPUS57.6–62.637.4–42.420.2
7 FebAximage80152.641.55.911.156.044.012.0
5 FebEurosondagem2,05946.541.012.56.253.146.95.5
5 FebTNS Eurotest1,00052.837.110.115.759.041.018.0
4 FebUniversidade Católica3,80649.034.017.015.058.042.016.0
2 FebAximage60151.343.75.07.654.046.08.0
24 JanIPOM69745.637.217.28.455.045.010.0
22 JanUniversidade Católica1,25748.035.017.013.059.041.018.0
19 JanMarktest82154.033.412.620.661.838.223.6
18 JanAximage50055.629.814.625.865.035.030.0
16 JanEurosondagem2,56943.036.022.07.052.547.55.0
9 JanAximage55057.034.88.122.262.038.024.0
9 JanINTERCAMPUS1,52560.029.011.031.067.033.034.0
2007
20 DecAximage50261.026.712.334.370.030.040.0
7 DecAximage55064.127.38.636.870.030.040.0
15 NovMarktest80861.230.08.831.267.132.934.2
24 OctINTERCAMPUS51466.927.65.439.371.029.042.0
21 OctMarktest80963.027.010.036.070.030.040.0
17 OctEurosondagem1,03346.039.016.07.051.748.33.4
15 OctUniversidade Católica1,28263.025.012.038.072.028.044.0
4 OctAximage55047.939.912.28.055.045.010.0
2006

Results

Results by district

DistrictYesNoTurnout
Votes%Votes%
 Aveiro110,64444.62%137,31255.38%42.29%
 Azores17,02230.66%38,48969.34%29.54%
 Beja45,02883.90%8,64116.10%39.82%
 Braga132,50741.35%187,91158.65%46.20%
 Bragança20,44540.75%29,72259.25%34.07%
 Castelo Branco45,97661.65%28,60138.35%40.15%
 Coimbra92,82862.89%54,76937.11%40.04%
 Évora48,27478.38%13,31221.62%43.00%
 Faro89,13273.92%31,44026.08%38.78%
 Guarda27,72546.53%31,86553.47%38.27%
 Leiria97,29258.30%69,58541.70%43.76%
 Lisbon607,41971.47%242,46728.53%48.67%
 Madeira30,20934.60%57,09165.40%38.89%
 Portalegre30,50774.45%10,47825.55%38.92%
 Porto350,86854.36%294,59945.64%44.86%
 Santarém109,05165.11%58,43434.89%44.16%
 Setúbal259,68481.99%57,03218.01%48.77%
 Viana do Castelo37,09640.71%54,02359.29%39.54%
 Vila Real28,87138.09%46,92161.91%34.28%
 Viseu50,93138.32%81,97761.68%37.71%
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições

History

In 1998 the same question had been put in another referendum. In this case a small majority voted no and the law was not implemented.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Portugal will legalise abortion." (12 February 2007). BBC News. Retrieved 12 February 2007.
  2. News: 2007-04-10 . Portugal ratifies law allowing abortions . 2024-04-27 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  3. " Portuguese MPs vote for abortion." (9 March 2007). BBC News. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
  4. "Portuguese Would Decriminalize Abortion ." (9 January 2007). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved 10 January 2006.
  5. "Portuguese Would Vote to Legalize Abortion." (2 November 2006). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved 11 January 2006.
  6. "Support Plummets for Portugal's Abortion Change." (29 January 2007). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved 12 February 2007.