Spain's justice minister resigned on Tuesday over a failed bid to restrict women's right to abortion, which had sparked mass protests and international condemnation. The reform claimed the first scalp in Spain's conservative government since it took power in 2011: Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, 55, a top member of the ruling Popular Party (PP).
The new law would have ended a woman's right to freely opt for an abortion up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, standard in much of Europe. Although Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government has survived protests over corruption scandals and economic cuts, the abortion reform proved too divisive to wrap up. Rajoy told reporters on Tuesday his government would drop the most contentious proposals. "We will continue studying ways to obtain greater acceptance of the reform, but I think I have taken the most sensible decision at this time," Rajoy told reporters.