Christian Democratic youth party Norway supports abortion law

The decision breaches the anti-abortion stance that the Norwegian Christian Democrats always had. The KrFU passed the proposal with only a few votes against it. The party states that it does not see a better alternative than the current abortion law but must actively fight against an extension, as Vart Land reports. KrFU leader Hadle Rasmus Bjuland put forward the proposal in September.

Hadle Bjuland says that the fight for unborn life unites the youth group of the Christian Democrats. "Don't let it become a debate for or against abortion. We want the number of abortions to be as low as possible. The question is which practical means we will use today", he stated during the KrFU meeting, according to Dagen. Hadle Bjuland furthermore emphasises that the Christian Democrats are the only party in Norway that believes that life begins at conception and will never cease to fight against an extension of the abortion law.

The youth leader stated earlier that he hoped the Christian Democratic Party KrF would take over the stance of its youth branch. "I hope that KrF agrees that we accept self-determination until week 12", he said to Vart Land when he launched his proposal. After its acceptance, he is a little more nuanced: "KrF must take the process as they wish."

Measures

Central board member Thea Myhr is one of the supporters of the proposal. She says she is still against abortion in principle but does not see the tightening of the current legislation as attainable. "And we have no examples of fewer abortions caused by banning abortion. Therefore, I think we have the greatest chance of reducing the number of abortions by introducing preventive measures and fighting against an extension of the current law", she says to Dagen.

Myhr launches five measures to reduce the number of abortions by 40 per cent by 2035. For example, she wants to provide free contraception to everyone under 30, introduce a mandatory ethics day for school children in grade 9 and provide additional financial support to stay-at-home mothers with several children.

Disappointed

However, not everyone is happy with the new abortion stance of the party. Outgoing deputy chairman Joel Ystebø said to Dagen that he is disappointed with the decision. "I believe that KrFU's voice for the unborn child's right to life is significantly weakened after this", he stated. "I believe Norwegian politics loses something by the fact that the clearest party for the unborn children's right to life has moved away from this principle."