Uruguay’s legislature passed a reproductive rights bill that would have decriminalized first semester abortions. Despite his previous profession as a physician, Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez (image) vetoed that proposal based on his personal objections to abortion. In the end, the Senate lacked sufficient votes to overcome the veto and the bill was defeated.Vazquez’ decision may prove costly among some of his political allies:
Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez has offered to resign as head of the ruling Socialist Party after he defied its members and vetoed a law decriminalizing abortions…A recent poll showed that nearly 6 in 10 Uruguayans were in favor of the bill, though conservative groups and the Catholic Church backed Vazquez.
His offer to step down comes just days after Congress, which is controlled by the president's party, denounced his veto and vowed to present another bill in next year's session…
"The offer came in a few days ago. It is a painful decision, both for the president and for us, and we will do everything possible to keep him from leaving," Monica Xavier, a Socialist Party senator, said on local radio.
Image- BBC News
Sources- The Latin Americanist, AFP, AHN, Reuters, BBC News
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