Viktor Orban is facing pressure from the right on abortion

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán has become a towering figure in European politics over the past 12 years thanks to his promotion of ‘Christian democracy’ as an alternative to western liberalism, which he claims has lost its way. But a change to abortion laws introduced by the Hungarian government this week may indicate an alarming shift in his methods.

The new regulation, brought in with little warning or debate, requires pregnant women to listen to their foetus’s heartbeat before they can access abortion services. Coming into force on Thursday, it strengthens abortion laws which have remained liberal throughout Orbán’s leadership.

In Hungary, abortions are legal up to the twelfth week of pregnancy, or at any time if the pregnancy is not viable. Women must give a valid reason for the abortion, and have to attend counselling sessions where they are presented with alternatives such as adoption. In this way, the rules have maintained freedom of choice while attempting to also further Orbán’s ‘pro-family’ social agenda.