MEP and former Prime Minister Alfred Sant said he has an open mind on abortion in cases of rape.

“I know a number of people who went through this experience and chose abortion, and I also know those who didn’t choose abortion. I also know people who were pregnant with a child who had a high probability of being disabled and I know those who had an abortion and those who didn’t. Both sides have their own story to tell. You have to listen and hear exactly what is being said and experienced. In Malta they occur and we don’t speak about it”.

In his blog published in the Malta Independent earlier this month, the former Prime Minister spoke on life-saving abortion.

“I am one of those who believe that in such cases (when a mother’s life is in jeopardy), abortion should be allowed. The decision is between death for a still unformed baby, or death for the mother. The decision seems clear to me, unless the mother herself, freely and without being imposed upon, decides otherwise”.

He had also said that the argument that such an option would open the door for a wider acceptance of abortion is unconvincing. “If we are really attaching deep value to human life, we should not allow vital decisions about it to be influenced by tactical calculations regarding how such decisions would affect our stand in favour or against any aspect of social policy”.

Speaking to the Malta Independent on the issue, he said that he will soon be voting in favour of an amendment that will be introduced, regarding life-saving abortion, in the European Parliament.

As for embryo freezing, Dr Sant believes the Prime Minister was a 100% correct in his support of it and plan to introduce it, and Dr Sant does not see a link between this and abortion.

Prime Minister Muscat had said that for an IVF law to be successful, then it must have the freezing function.

Dr Muscat explained that under the new law that will be proposed, up to five eggs can be fertilised and a maximum of two embryos will be able to be implanted into a mother at a go.

The Prime Minister had explained that if more than two embryos are produced through fertilisation, the remainder would be frozen so that they can be used by the couple in another cycle.

As for those embryos not used, it was said that they will be offered up for adoption.