Montevideo, Uruguay, Oct 25, 2007 / 08:26 am
A new attempt by lawmakers in Uruguay to put abortion up for vote in the Senate was thwarted this week when one Senator revealed the plan on a local television program.
On October 17, the Senate in Uruguay voted against legalizing abortion and removed it from a bill on sexual and reproductive health. Nevertheless, local media reported that after adjourning debate on the bill until next week, abortion supporters planned a new “surprise” vote on abortion on the same day debate would resume.
A report on the Indice 810 television channel revealed that the strategy was to hold the vote when Senator Julio Maria Sanguinetti, who is pro-abortion and who missed the last vote on the issue, would be present in the chamber, and to take advantage of the absence of Senator Carlos Baraibar, who is pro-life and who will not be in town on the day the debate resumes.
On October 17 the bill legalizing abortion failed to pass as the vote was a tie of 15-15. Only a simple majority was needed to get the measure approved, and abortion supporters hoped that the surprise vote would ensure passage.