The French Senate has overwhelmingly voted to enshrine women’s right to abortion in the constitution, following approval by the National Assembly.
The proposal, supported by 267 votes to 50, aims to solidify abortion rights amid concerns about erosion of such rights in allied nations like the US and Poland.
President Emmanuel Macron has called for a special joint session involving both houses of parliament to vote on the constitutional amendment, which, if passed by a three-fifths majority, would not require a referendum.
An Ifop opinion poll in November 2022 indicated strong public support for the amendment, with 86% in favor.
While all major political parties in France support abortion rights, the language of the amendment was revised after initial approval by the National Assembly.
The new wording emphasizes the “freedom” of women to have an abortion, which was endorsed by the Senate.
President Macron reiterated his commitment to making women’s freedom to have abortions “irreversible” by embedding it in the constitution.
Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti hailed the vote as a “historic day” for France, making it the first country to constitutionally protect women’s freedom to decide about their bodies.
Conservative senators expressed feeling pressured to approve the amendment, with one senator anonymously noting familial consequences for dissent.
Meanwhile, the US has seen ongoing debate over abortion rights since the Supreme Court rescinded the nationwide right to abortion in June 2022, leading to various states implementing total or partial abortion bans with severe penalties for those involved.
In Poland, a near-total ban on abortion imposed by the Constitutional Court in 2020 remains in effect, allowing termination only in limited circumstances.
Source-BBC
