Baudouin, the former king of the Belgians who was willing to do anything to stop abortion
King Baudouin of Belgium refused to sanction a law on abortion in April 1990, bringing the monarchy and nation to the brink. This unprecedented act was a result of the king's strong Catholic beliefs and his willingness to defy the will of a majority of lawmakers. The government ultimately declared the king unable to reign, allowing the Council of Ministers to ratify the abortion law in his place.
- ▪King Baudouin refused to sanction a law on abortion in April 1990.
- ▪The government declared the king unable to reign, allowing the Council of Ministers to ratify the law.
- ▪The king's actions were motivated by his strong Catholic beliefs and opposition to abortion.
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| Original publisher | Le Monde (EN) |
| Canonical URL | https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/06/15/baudouin-the-former-king-of-the-belgians-who-was-willing-to-do-anything-to-stop-abortion_6754477_4.html |
| Publication time | Mon, 15 Jun 2026 02:05:58 +0200 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-15T00:07:33.547Z |
| Last seen | 2026-06-15T00:07:33.547Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
LETTER FROM THE BENELUX Queen Fabiola and King Baudouin of Belgium, in Brussels, October 1, 1983. AFP It was one of the most astonishing political sleights of hand of the 20th century, tinged with a dose of surrealism, and it played out in the Kingdom of Belgium. Yet, not all the details of this incredible episode, which took place in April 1990, were widely known: Baudouin (1930-1993), king of the Belgians, refused to sanction a law on abortion. This unprecedented act brought both the monarchy and the nation to the brink. In a country where the monarch "reigns but does not govern," Baudouin simply could not defy the will of a majority of lawmakers without consequence. After 20 years of debate, they had finally reached an agreement to legalize abortion.
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