The current status of Paragraph 218,which deals with abortion,is being questioned. The previous coalition government, often referred to as the “traffic light” government, had initiated efforts to reform this paragraph. To this end, they established a commission comprising recognized experts from the fields of law, medicine, psychology, ethics, and sociology last year.
Among these experts was Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, a law professor at the university of Potsdam. This commission put forth a suggestion to the traffic light government, suggesting the legalization of abortions within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. the expert council also advised that abortions should remain prohibited in principle after the fetus becomes viable, which is typically around the 22nd week of gestation. For the period between these two points, the commission proposed that the legislature should have the discretion to determine “up to what point in time he allows an abortion with the consent of the woman.”
However, no changes were made to Paragraph 218 during the previous legislative period.This was attributed to a lack of consensus within the traffic light government itself. As a notable example, the former FDP Minister of Justice, Marco Buschmann, expressed skepticism, noting at the time that the Federal Constitutional Court had established very narrow parameters regarding the protection of life. Leading figures from the CDU/CSU and church organizations also voiced concerns. Dorothee Bär (CSU), currently the Minister for Research, stated at the time that she was “stunned” by the commission’s differentiated recommendation, implying that the protection of life might no longer be considered a notable factor.
The recent election and the subsequent change in government temporarily halted this debate. However, the recent setback in the election of Brosius-Gersdorf has reignited the discussion with renewed intensity.
