Political factions in Germany are increasingly vocal regarding the legal status of abortion, specifically Paragraph 218 of the penal code, which criminalizes abortion while allowing it under certain exceptions.
Members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party and the Left Party are jointly calling for the repeal of Paragraph 218. SPD legal policy spokesperson Carmen Wegge argues that the existing law fosters a stigmatizing social climate, hinders access to information and negatively impacts healthcare provision, particularly in southern and western Germany. A recent study, known as the Elsa Study, supports this claim, demonstrating that a significant majority of women facing unwanted pregnancies experience social stigma.
The SPD proposes that all public hospitals be mandated to perform abortions and that abortions be legally permissible and free from criminal penalty for up to twelve weeks. They also advocate for full coverage of costs by statutory health insurance. Wegge emphasized that abortion is the most frequently performed medical procedure on women and should not be subject to societal judgment.
The conservative Union bloc, however, defends the current system of mandatory counseling before an abortion, viewing it as a valuable space for women to address anxieties and concerns. Anja Weisgerber, deputy parliamentary group leader of the CDU/CSU, stated her faction will not weaken regulations designed to protect unborn life, fearing a breakdown of the established compromise and potential polarization. The Federal Ministry of Health currently sees no need for action.
The Green Party interprets the Elsa Study as a mandate for change. Ulle Schauws, spokesperson for women’s policy, highlights the taboo surrounding abortion, attributing it to its criminalization. She argues that decriminalization is crucial to improving healthcare access by encouraging more doctors to receive specialized training in the procedure.
The Left Party is similarly demanding reform, criticizing the government for what they see as continued disenfranchisement of women. Kathrin Gebel, the party’s spokesperson on women’s issues, maintains that Paragraph 218 is paternalistic and negatively impacts care. She believes abortion should be a standard component of healthcare and criticizes the influence of the Catholic Church, citing cases where religiously affiliated hospitals-funded by public funds-refuse to perform abortions on ideological grounds.
Conversely, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) firmly opposes repealing Paragraph 218, referencing a 1993 ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court emphasizing the protection of unborn life. Beatrix von Storch, deputy parliamentary group leader, believes abortion should not be normalized, stressing the perceived moral responsibility toward the unborn child.