Unlike most other federal states, Vorarlberg’s hospitals do not offer abortions. The only point of contact is a private Bregenz doctor who is about to retire. State Governor Barbara Schöbi-Fink (ÖVP) – she has taken over the official business of Governor Markus Wallner (ÖVP), who has just withdrawn from the political agenda for health reasons – hoped a successor would be found, but at the same time rejected abortions to be offered in state clinics.
“The ÖVP disappoints women,” said SPÖ president Gabriele Sprickler-Falschlunger. The ÖVP takes the country back to the late 1970s, when women had to travel to the eastern states for the procedure. The ÖVP had for years watched radical anti-abortion opponents tyrannize patients and the doctor and fight against a ban mile, now it is difficult to find someone to do the job. The NEOS also demanded a safe, low-threshold offer.
Governor of state pinpoints misunderstanding
The debate led to Schöbi-Fink’s rejection of VOL Live, because hospitals are primarily there to save lives and promote health. Termination with a medical indication is excluded. She wouldn’t choose those words anymore, says Schöbi-Fink. She sensed a misunderstanding.
She firmly rejects the fact that her women’s lives are not important. It is important to her that there is still a supply in this area in Vorarlberg, but not within the state hospitals. The provincial health minister Martina Rüscher offered support: they do not want to force hospital staff to have an abortion. Both ÖVP politicians stressed that they were not against the deadline solution.
Offer in Vorarlberg “useful and necessary”
The club leaders of the governing parties also tried to calm the situation. Roland Breakfast (ÖVP) and Eva Hammerer (Greens) stressed that an offer for abortions in Vorarlberg should remain, which is “useful and necessary”. They are “in good talks” about this. The state councilor responsible for women, Katharina Wiesflecker (Greens), explained that in view of the approaching retirement, the question of how to obtain an offer will have to be asked again.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
