Shouting match in Hungarian Parliament over ‘heartbeat’ abortion decree

The new government is set to repeal the 2022 restrictions

BUDAPEST – A fierce parliamentary debate has erupted in Hungary over the future of the controversial “heartbeat decree,” which obliges women seeking an abortion to first listen to the fetal heartbeat.

The decree was introduced by Viktor Orbán’s administration in September 2022. It has now become a battleground between the newly elected Péter Magyar government and the newly formed conservative opposition.

Abortion has been legal in Hungary since 1953, and the new government is widely expected to repeal the 2022 restrictions. While the right wing praised the rule, liberals condemned it as psychological torture. Statistically, the measure had a limited impact, with the number of abortions in Hungary falling from around 21.800 in 2022 to 20.300 in 2024.

The new government is set to repeal the 2022 restrictions

Shouting match in Hungarian Parliament over ‘heartbeat’ abortion decree | Euractiv

Shouting match in Hungarian Parliament over ‘heartbeat’ abortion decree | Euractiv

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