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Spain abortion bill clears parliamentary hurdle

November 26, 2009
Al Goodman, CNN

Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- In its first major test in parliament, the Socialist government's bill to make it easier to get an abortion in Spain won enough backing Thursday to defeat amendments that would have totally blocked the proposed law.

The Socialists, with smaller-party allies, voted down the amendments, after an unexpected offer to negotiate the bill's most controversial point --- which would allow 16-year-olds to get an abortion without parental consent.

The bill now moves to committee for further scrutiny, and it may not face a vote to become law until early next spring.

• Read the complete article.

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