President ‘prepared to resign’ over abortion law amendment
President George Vella has told people close to him he is prepared to resign if parliament approves the amendment to the abortion law as proposed by the government. Sources said he is mainly concerned the proposed change would allow for the termination of a pregnancy when a woman’s health, rather than her life, is deemed to be at risk. The bill is currently going through a second reading in parliament but the wording could still be amended at the committee stage in the coming days. Any bill needs to be signed by the president before it becomes law. If Vella resigns, he would be the first president in history to do so. Parliament will likely take a vote on the bill by December 19, before the Christmas recess. Sources also said the president is concerned about the impact on this year’s edition of L-Istrina if he resigns. As is tradition, the annual fundraising telethon is scheduled for December 26. Vella, who is a doctor by profession, has been steadfast in his stance against abortion and, as president, he publicly insisted he would resign if parliament passed an abortion bill. When, in May last year, former independent MP Marlene Farrugia tabled a private member’s bill to...