Newly-elected German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder last week took steps to allow the sale of mifepristone, a safe, non-surgical method of early abortion formerly known as RU-486.
Schroeder’s liberal Social Democratic party succeeded the conservative Christian Democrats, led by Helmut Kohl.
The Catholic Church harshly condemned Schroeder’s action to allow the distribution of mifepristone and invited Christine Bergmann, minister for women’s affairs, to discuss the issue with Church officials. Bergmann declined this request, stating, “I really don’t know what there is to talk about.”
AP Worldstream reported that the drug’s patent holder, Edouard Sakiz, plans to file will seek permission from European Union officials to market the drug in Germany and other European countires next month. Mifepristone is currently available in France, Britain and Sweden.
