Italian minister booed off stage over new abortion laws

AN ITALIAN minister was booed off stage because of a government decision to allow anti-abortion groups into clinics to persuade women not to terminate their pregnancy.

Eugenia Roccella, the family minister in Italy’s hard-right coalition, had to abandon an event in Rome after student protesters held up placards which spelt “Io decido” or “I decide”. They said the government should have no role in women’s right to an abortion, a right that has been guaranteed since 1978.

The coalition led by Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, last month sparked controversy after passing legislation which allows pro-life groups into publicly run family-planning clinics.

The minister, a member of the hardright Brothers of Italy party, later said she had been subjected to “censorship” at the event, which is intended to address Italy’s drastically low birth rate.

“This was just not about censoring me or the government, but a profound hostility towards maternity and paternity,” she claimed.

The protest swiftly became a broader political row, with Ms Meloni saying it was outrageous the minister had not been allowed to speak. Ms Meloni, who is staunchly anti-abortion, offered her “full and unconditional solidarity” to the minister.

“Once again, a minister was prevented from expressing their ideas,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “It’s time to say enough is enough.”

She accused the protesters of censoring Ms Roccella, saying they had “stopped her from talking because they don’t agree with her ideas”.

Critics of the government say abortion is an areas it is beginning to show hard-right views. Pope Francis is due to participate in the conference today.

Birth rates in Italy have been declining for years. Among EU nations, Italy has one of the lowest birth rates.

While the right to have an abortion is enshrined in law, in reality it can be hard to access. Around 68 per cent of gynaecologists identify as “conscientious objectors” on moral or religious grounds, the health ministry said.

Rates are even higher in southern regions like Sicily, Calabria and Basilicata.