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Ireland May Soon Vote To Ease Its Rules On Abortion

Prime Minister Leo Vardkar said in 2014 that Ireland's ban on abortions was "too restrictive."

By: Casey Mendoza

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Leo Varadkar, the prime minister of Ireland, just announced he would campaign to loosen his country's strict rules on abortion.

That's a big move for Ireland, which has a near total and constitutionally enforced ban on abortion. It wasn't until 2013 that abortion was first permitted — if, and only if, doctors deemed the woman's life is at risk.

Varadkar, a former doctor and minister for health, described himself in a 2014 interview as pro-life. Despite that, he also said he felt Ireland's law on abortion was "too restrictive."

The prime minister announced he would campaign for a future referendum to abolish the country's constitutional amendment on abortion. In a recent poll, more than half of Irish people surveyed said they would vote in favor of legalizing abortion up to 12 weeks.