The man behind Spain’s move to severely restrict the right to abortion has resigned after the planned new law was dropped.<br /><br />Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, the former mayor of Madrid, has said he is also stepping down from politics.<br /><br />The bill has divided Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s ruling conservatives. It would have allowed abortion only in cases of rape or if pregnancy posed a serious health risk to the mother.<br /><br />“As prime minister, I have taken the decision that is the most sensible. We will continue working for cohesion, and what we can not have is a law that, when the next government takes office, is going to be repealed,” Rajoy told reporters.<br /><br />Opinion polls suggested most Spaniards opposed the planned restrictions which would have made the country one of the most difficult in western Europe to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.<br /><br />This after the previous socialist government had brought Spain into line.<br /><br />The political left are celebrating.<br /><br />“Finally they’ve failed to impose the individual morality of the Catholic Church on a society that is increasingly pluralistic, recognising the right of women to decide on motherhood,” said Gaspar Llamazares, of the United Left (IU). <br /><br />Pro-Life campaigners – who marched last weekend calling on the government to comply with an election promise to restrict abortion – have now accused Rajoy of betrayal.<br /><br />The prime minister says the government will instead look to tighten existing law so that young women of 16 and 17 seeking abortions must have parental consent.
