Discussions surrounding abortion procedures are generating internal divisions within Germany’s ruling coalition. Stephan Pilsinger, a member of the Bundestag for the Christian Social Union (CSU), has publicly challenged statements made by Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Minister Warken has indicated the possibility of expanding financial support for women seeking abortions. This suggestion aligns with a provision within the current coalition agreement, which aims to broaden the scope of cost coverage through statutory health insurance.
Pilsinger, serving as deputy chair of the Health Committee, voiced concerns about such an expansion, stating that it could raise constitutional questions and undermine the existing legal framework outlined in Paragraph 218 of the German penal code. He expressed his assessment to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” emphasizing his belief that a broader cost assumption by health insurance providers would be “constitutionally questionable.
Reaffirming the coalition’s stance on the legal code, Pilsinger asserted that “abolishing or weakening Paragraph 218 will not happen with the Union”. This contrasts with comments made by Minister Warken in the “Berliner Morgenpost” over the weekend, where she suggested that expanding financial support could be achieved by raising the current income threshold without requiring changes to Paragraph 218.
