Prince Albert Refuses to Sign Abortion Bill: ‘We Are Catholic'

Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2025. | Credit: VALERY HACHE/Getty Images

In May of 2025, Monaco's National Council voted almost unanimously to legalize abortion. The vote was nineteen councillors in favor and two councillors against the legalisation of abortion. The amended abortion law allowed for the termination of pregnancies after the twelfth week up to the sixteenth week if the pregnancy was a result of rape and permitted an age of parental consent of fifteen as opposed to the current age of eighteen. For a jurisdiction such as Monaco where in most cases, abortion is prohibited, save for extreme cases, the passage of this law would be significant.

Unfortunately, Prince Albert did not sign the bill into law. In talking with Monaco-Matin, he stated that he understood the sensitivity of the issue and also stated that the current regulation "respects our identity, the role of the Catholic Church in our country and allow for the support of women in a safe and humane way".

The population of Monaco is predominantly Catholic, over ninety percent of the population identifies with the Catholic Church, and the Prince has significant power, sharing it with parliament. Because of this, by not signing the bill, the Prince has effectively prevented the passage of the abortion law from being a law of Monaco. Citizens and residents of Monaco are reacting with mixed feelings as a result. On one hand, many are in support of the Prince and have defended his position. On the other hand, there are many citizens and residents of Monaco who are extremely upset with the Prince for not signing the abortion bill into law. Juliette Rapaire from Les Nouvelles Réformatrices warned that "Women will always find solutions outside of the Principality".

According to Albert, he believes we have a responsibility to "defend human life at all times" and that mass legalisation would go against both our historical precedent and "our most vulnerable citizens".

References:
https://thecatholicherald.com/article/monacos-prince-blocks-bill-to-legalise-abortion