78 MPs urge cabinet to protect abortion access
A motion backed by 78 seats in the Tweede Kamer calls on the cabinet to defend the right to abortion and access to it, but coalition party CDA did not support it.
A majority of 78 seats in the Tweede Kamer has called on the cabinet to defend the right to abortion and access to it. The motion came from PRO MP Lisa Vliegenthart. Coalition party CDA did not back it.
Vliegenthart tabled the motion during the debate on the health ministry's budget. She said the right to abortion is under pressure worldwide and that "parties and organisations in the Netherlands also want to restrict the right to and access to abortion".
CDA MP André Poortman said he is in favour of the right to abortion. Minister Sophie Hermans (VVD) said during the debate that she thought it was a good proposal.
More on cabinet and parliament
Follow the story: PRO
CDA (Christen-Democratisch Appèl)
The Christian Democratic party, on the centre-right. It has taken part in many Dutch coalition governments and is one of the three parties in the current cabinet, with D66 and the VVD.
PRO
PRO is a Dutch political party, and in this context its name refers to the parliamentary group whose members sit in the Tweede Kamer, the House of Representatives. Its MPs take part in debates, tabling motions and votes on legislation like any other party in the Dutch parliament. Party groups like PRO shape which policies the Netherlands pursues, since the cabinet must ultimately gain a majority in the Tweede Kamer.