German Parliament to Debate Decriminalization of Abortion This Week

Proposed legislation seeks to remove abortion from the criminal code, with a vote planned before February's federal election.

A cross-party group of lawmakers from SPD, Greens, and Left Party is pushing to abolish Paragraph 218, which criminalizes abortion in Germany.
The proposal would legalize abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, remove mandatory waiting periods, and shift regulation to the Pregnancy Conflict Act.
Support from FDP lawmakers is crucial to secure a parliamentary majority for the reform, while CDU and CSU remain opposed.
Advocates argue that current laws stigmatize women and medical professionals, worsening access to abortion services in many regions.
A recent poll shows 74% of Germans support legalizing abortion within the first trimester, reflecting broad public backing for the reform.