Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein has officially blocked a proposed law that would have liberalized the country’s abortion policies. The legislation, which sought to bring Liechtenstein’s restrictive laws more in line with broader European standards, had been passed by the national parliament just last month. The parliamentary approval followed a formal citizens' initiative that gathered signatures from approximately 25% of the nation’s voters.

This marks the first time the Prince has utilized his veto power during his reign. The decision has been met with significant criticism from reproductive rights advocates within the country. Tatjana As’Ad, a leader of the initiative to reform the law, expressed disappointment, noting that while the veto was not entirely unexpected given the Prince’s known stance, it remains a major setback for those seeking to change the current legal framework. Liechtenstein currently maintains some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, and the veto effectively maintains the status quo, preventing the proposed reforms from taking effect despite the support of the legislative body and a significant portion of the electorate.