German Parliament Begins Debate on Decriminalizing Abortion

A cross-party proposal seeks to legalize abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, shifting its regulation out of the criminal code.

The proposed legislation would make abortions within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy legal, while maintaining the current counseling requirement but removing the mandatory waiting period.
The initiative, backed by 327 lawmakers from multiple parties, aims to move abortion regulations from the criminal code to the Pregnancy Conflict Law.
The proposal faces significant hurdles, as it requires majority approval in the legal committee and the full Bundestag, with opposition from the CDU/CSU and mixed support within the FDP.
Public opinion strongly supports decriminalizing abortion, with over 80% of Germans opposing its current classification as unlawful, according to recent surveys.
If the proposal does not progress before the February 2025 Bundestag election, it is unlikely to be revisited in the current parliamentary session.