The French Parliament approves including abortion in the Constitution

The French National Assembly approved the inclusion in the Constitution of the “guaranteed freedom” of women to abort, a modification promoted by the Government of Emmanuel Macron that must later be debated in the Senate, with a conservative majority.

The constitutional change, which if it becomes a reality would make the French Magna Carta the only one in force in the world that explicitly guarantees access to voluntary interruption of pregnancy, was approved by 493 votes to 30.

“Tonight the National Assembly and the Government have not missed their date with history,” celebrated the French Minister of Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti, after the vote.

Added to article 34

Specifically, the French deputies validated that the following formula be added to article 34: “The law determines the conditions under which the guaranteed freedom of women to resort to a voluntary interruption of pregnancy is exercised.”

During the debate in the chamber, most political parties emphasized that currently the right to abortion is not in question in France, but a clear setback has been seen in other countries, such as the United States, Poland or Hungary.

Given the possibility of a similar drift in France, the presence in the Constitution of this “guaranteed freedom” would protect women in this country from the elimination of the right to abortion through an ordinary law promoted by a potential reactionary majority.

“This vote goes beyond political differences, demonstrating that the fight for women’s rights knows no partisan boundaries,” said the Macronist representative for the Latin American and Caribbean constituency, Éléonore Caroit, in statements to EFE.

Support of the socialists

In addition to the support of the macronist simple majority groups, left-wing formations, such as the socialists, the insumisos and the ecologists, had positioned themselves in favor of the project.

On the right, the conservatives of Los Republicanos noted more reservations, such as the need to set time limits to protect life or the safeguarding of conscientious medical objection, but their deputies were free to vote in favor.

Marine Le Pen’s far-right legislators also had it, who had criticized this Government initiative for considering it unnecessary while neglecting current problems such as farmers’ discontent.

It continues its processing in the Senate

After the overwhelming approval of the deputies, the bill will continue its processing in the Senate, which would have to adopt exactly the same version of the text in February.

There, the outlook is somewhat more uncertain despite the fact that the Government opted for the choice of the concept of “guaranteed freedom”, instead of the “right” to abortion preferred by the left and feminist organizations, to try to ensure consensus. between the cameras.

If the Senate also gives the green light, legislators from both chambers will have to meet in Congress in Versailles and adopt it by a majority of at least three-fifths.

Historical precedent in the Magna Carta of the former Yugoslavia

There is only one historical precedent for the inclusion of abortion in a Magna Carta, in the 1974 Constitution of the former Yugoslavia.

In France, the right to abortion has existed since 1975 thanks to the law promoted by Simone Veil, a key political figure whose legacy was remembered today in the Chamber by numerous legislators.

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