Tens of thousands of pro-life demonstration took place in Madrid at the weekend calling on the Spanish government to keep its pledge to pass more restrictive abortion laws, after rumours emerged that the conservative People’s Party (PP) was planning to shelve its abortion bill.

Last week, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was considering backing away from plans to tighten Spain’s abortion laws in the aftermath of poor results for the PP in the European elections.

Mr Rajoy pledged to overturn this legislation and allow abortion only in cases of rape, or where two doctors certified that there was a serious threat to the life and health of the mother.The socialist government of Mr Rajoy’s predecessor, Jose Luis Zapatero, amended Spain’s laws to allow for abortion on demand up to 14 weeks, and 22 weeks in cases where the mother’s health is at risk or the child has a “serious abnormality”. The ‘health’ provision has meant abortion-on-demand in practice in countries like Britain.

The Local reports that demonstrators of all ages chanting “Yes to life, no to abortion” as they marched through the centre of Spain’s capital, while others chanted: “If they kill, don’t vote for them.”

“I voted for them and they betrayed me,” said demonstrator Iciar Gereca, 41, as she marched with the crowds carrying balloons and banners emblazoned with the slogan “Right to Life”.

“Why are they holding back now? To win votes? It doesn’t make sense.”

The march follows a series of other demonstrations in support of and opposition to the PP’s proposed law.

El Mundo reports that there are serious internal divisions over abortion within the PP, quoting unnamed sources who said that whether or not to allow abortion for children with life-limiting conditions had been a sticking point in negotiations.

Rumours that the bill’s author, Justice Minister Alberto Gallardon, is set to resign have also been rife in Spanish media.

“It’s a complicated law, socially sensitive,” Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said on Friday.

“The government wants to work to achieve the broadest possible consensus.”

Maria Arevalo, 17, who attended Sunday’s march with two friends, said the government has backtracked on its pledge because of fears it would be punished in municipal and regional elections next year.

“The municipal elections are not far away and the government is afraid of losing popularity,” she said.