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2007 Portuguese abortion referendum

Field	Value
title	Are you in agreement with the decriminalization of the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, if carried out, by the woman's choice, in the first ten weeks in a legally authorized health institution?
date	11 February 2007
country	Portugal
yes	2231529
no	1534669
invalid	73978
electorate	8814016
map
map_size	250px
map_caption	Results
previous_referendum	1998 Portuguese abortion referendum	previous_year=1998

Yes No

An abortion referendum took place in Portugal on 11 February 2007, to decide whether to legalise abortion up to ten weeks. The referendum was the fulfillment of an election pledge by the governing Socialist Party of Prime Minister José Sócrates.

Official results of the referendum showed that 59.24 percent of the Portuguese approved the proposal put on ballot, while 40.76 percent rejected it. However, only 43.61 percent of the registered voters turned out to vote. Since voter turnout was below 50 percent, according to the Portuguese Constitution, these results are not legally binding, and parliament can legally decide to disregard them. Prime Minister Sócrates nevertheless confirmed that he would expand the circumstances under which abortion was allowed, since a majority of voters had been in favour.

The law was ratified by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva on 10 April 2007.

Background

In 1998, the legalization of abortion had also been put to a referendum. However, a small majority voted NO, 51 to 49 percent, and abortion legalization was not implemented.

Question

The question in the referendum was:

Under the previous law, abortions were allowed up 12 weeks if the mother's life or mental or physical health is at risk, up to 16 weeks in cases of rape and up to 24 weeks if the child may be born with an incurable disease or deformity. The new law, approved on 9 March 2007, allows abortions on request up to the tenth week.

Political positions

The major parties in Portugal listed with their political positioning and their official answer to the referendum question:

Left
- Portuguese Communist Party – YES
- Left Bloc – YES
- Ecologist Party "The Greens" – YES
- Socialist Party – YES
Right
- Social Democratic Party – NEUTRAL (the party was divided, however, important members, including the then leader, Luís Marques Mendes, said NO)
- People's Party – NO

Campaign period

Choices slogans

Choice	Original slogan	English translation
	Yes	« O voto responsável, Sim. »
« Vota para acabar com a injustiça da lei. »	"Yes, the responsible vote"
"Vote to end the injustice of the law."
	No	« Não, Obrigada. »
« Escolhe a vida. »	"No, Thank you"
"Choose Life."

Opinion polling

A December 2006 Aximage/Correio da Manhã poll had found that 61 percent of Portugal's electorate supported the proposal, 26 percent did not, and 12 percent were "not sure". An earlier survey from October 2006 had yielded similar results."Portuguese Would Vote to Legalize Abortion." ( 2 November 2006). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved 11 January 2006. However, a poll from mid-January 2007 had seen support drop to 38 to 28 percent in favour.

Polling Firm	Date Released	Sample size	Direct Intention of Vote	Valid Vote	Yes	No	Und.	Lead	Yes
Referendum results	11 Feb 2007	43.6					59.3	40.7	18.6
[CESOP–UCP](https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/resultados-finais-dentro-dos-valores-das-projeccoes_n40344)	11 Feb 2007						57–61	39–43	18
[Eurosondagem](https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/resultados-finais-dentro-dos-valores-das-projeccoes_n40344)	11 Feb 2007						58.0–61.8	38.2–42.0	19.8
[Intercampus](https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/resultados-finais-dentro-dos-valores-das-projeccoes_n40344)	11 Feb 2007						57.6–62.6	37.4–42.4	20.2
[Aximage](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	7 Feb 2007	801	52.6	41.5	5.9	11.1	56	44	12
[Eurosondagem](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	5 Feb 2007	2,059	46.5	41.0	12.5	6.2	53.1	46.9	5.5
[TNS Eurotest](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	5 Feb 2007	1,000	52.8	37.1	10.1	15.7	59	41	18
[CESOP–UCP](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	4 Feb 2007	3,806	49	34	17	15	58	42	16
[Aximage](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	2 Feb 2007	601	51.3	43.7	5.0	7.6	54	46	8
[IPOM](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	24 Jan 2007	697	45.6	37.2	17.2	8.4	55	45	10
[CESOP–UCP](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	22 Jan 2007	1,257	48	35	17	13	59	41	18
[Marktest](http://www.marktest.com/wap/a/n/id~cf8.aspx)	19 Jan 2007	821	54.0	33.4	12.6	20.6	61.8	38.2	23.6
[Aximage](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	18 Jan 2007	500	55.6	29.8	14.6	25.8	65	35	30
[Eurosondagem](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	16 Jan 2007	2,569	43	36	22	7.0	52.5	47.5	5
[Aximage](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	9 Jan 2007	550	57.0	34.8	8.1	22.2	62	38	24
[Intercampus](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	9 Jan 2007	1,525	60.0	29.0	11.0	31.0	67	33	34
[Aximage](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	20 Dec 2006	502	61.0	26.7	12.3	34.3	70	30	40
[Aximage](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	7 Dec 2006	550	64.1	27.3	8.6	36.8	70	30	40
[Marktest](http://www.marktest.com/wap/a/n/id~c9b.aspx)	15 Nov 2006	808	61.2	30.0	8.8	31.2	67.1	32.9	34.2
[Intercampus](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	24 Oct 2006	514	66.9	27.6	5.4	39.3	71	29	42
[Marktest](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	21 Oct 2006	809	63.0	27.0	10.0	36.0	70	30	40
[Eurosondagem](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	17 Oct 2006	1,033	46.0	39.0	16.0	7.0	51.7	48.3	3.4
[CESOP–UCP](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	15 Oct 2006	1,282	63	25	12	38	72	28	44
[Aximage](http://www.pedro-magalhaes.org/as-ultimas-sondagens-2/)	4 Oct 2006	550	47.9	39.9	12.2	8.0	55	45	10

Results

Results by district

Results of the referendum in the Portuguese municipalities (Islands not shown).

District	Yes	No	Turnout	Votes	%	Votes
	Aveiro	110,644	44.62%	137,312	55.38%	42.29%
	Azores	17,022	30.66%	38,489	69.34%	29.54%
	Beja	45,028	83.90%	8,641	16.10%	39.82%
	Braga	132,507	41.35%	187,911	58.65%	46.20%
	Bragança	20,445	40.75%	29,722	59.25%	34.07%
	Castelo Branco	45,976	61.65%	28,601	38.35%	40.15%
	Coimbra	92,828	62.89%	54,769	37.11%	40.04%
	Évora	48,274	78.38%	13,312	21.62%	43.00%
	Faro	89,132	73.92%	31,440	26.08%	38.78%
	Guarda	27,725	46.53%	31,865	53.47%	38.27%
	Leiria	97,292	58.30%	69,585	41.70%	43.76%
	Lisbon	607,419	71.47%	242,467	28.53%	48.67%
	Madeira	30,209	34.60%	57,091	65.40%	38.89%
	Portalegre	30,507	74.45%	10,478	25.55%	38.92%
	Porto	350,868	54.36%	294,599	45.64%	44.86%
	Santarém	109,051	65.11%	58,434	34.89%	44.16%
	Setúbal	259,684	81.99%	57,032	18.01%	48.77%
	Viana do Castelo	37,096	40.71%	54,023	59.29%	39.54%
	Vila Real	28,871	38.09%	46,921	61.91%	34.28%
	Viseu	50,931	38.32%	81,977	61.68%	37.71%
Source: [Comissão Nacional de Eleições](https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/resultados_rn_2007_por_distrito.pdf)

References

"[https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6350651.stm Portugal will legalise abortion]." (12 February 2007). BBC News. Retrieved 12 February 2007.
(2007-04-10). "Portugal ratifies law allowing abortions". The Guardian.
(March 2018)
https://www.tribunalconstitucional.pt/tc/acordaos/20060617.html
"[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6434475.stm Portuguese MPs vote for abortion]." (9 March 2007). BBC News. Retrieved 18 April 2007.
(9 February 2007). "Termina hoje campanha para o referendo ao aborto". TVI.
"IVG 10 depois do referendo: o que mudou e o que falta fazer". Plataforma Mulheres.
(30 January 2007). "Campanha para o referendo sobre o aborto começa hoje". Público.
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