News of the death of Savita Halappanavar spread yesterday to Germany.“Beliefs saved, patient dead” is how Germany’s Tageszeitung headlined its report.
“The European Court of Human Rights decided two years ago that Ireland has to pass a law allowing termination in the case of a danger to a pregnant woman’s life,” the paper notes.
“But to date the government has not had the courage to touch this hot potato.”
Der Spiegel online said Mrs Halappanavar’s death had triggered an “emotional debate in this Catholic country”.
“Some 2,000 people protested before the parliament on Wednesday evening against the ‘political cowardice’,” the report continued.
“The opposition to abortion remains high, particularly in rural areas. But the chances for an initiative for a law seem better than ever. The Catholic Church is discredited by the child abuse scandals and has lost much of its authority. The religious Kenny simply has to bite the bullet and dare the debate in his own party.”
Switzerland’s Blick tabloid noted: “Abortion denied: Pregnant women dies from dead baby in hospital.”
Austria’s Kronen tabloid: “Ireland – pregnant woman dies, debate over abortion”.