Justice and education chiefs promise changes to abortion law and curriculum

As expected, the Popular Party government announced on Tuesday that it would reform a controversial 2010 abortion law by going back to the conditions outlined in 1985 legislation under which women could obtain the procedure in Spain.

The proposed reform would eliminate the clause that allows girls between the ages of 16 and 18 to obtain an abortion without their parents' consent if the matter could cause family conflict, said Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón. It will also remove the option whereby women can interrupt their pregnancy up to the 14th week of gestation without having to provide a reason to their healthcare provider.

"Reforming the abortion law will be the most liberal thing I have done in my life," Gallardón said during a TV interview.

The justice chief wasn't the only Cabinet official making announcements of changes to existing laws. Education Minister José Ignacio Wert told Congress that the PP administration would change the public school curriculum to focus more on civic and constitutional affairs, removing the more liberal one geared to citizens' rights and interpersonal relationships passed by the previous Socialist government. "It caused social divisions and went beyond what a civic education curriculum requires," Wert said of the current law.

For his part, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he would make his first appearance in Congress on February 8 to give lawmakers a report on this week's EU summit. But, he added, he would not debate the crisis or unemployment with the opposition.