The French National Assembly approved this Tuesday Inclusion of women’s “guaranteed freedom” in the Constitution to cancelA change supported by the government Emmanuel Macron this needs to be debated later in the Senate with a conservative majority
Constitutional amendment that, if realized, would create the French Magna Carta unique worldwide The law, which explicitly guarantees access to voluntary termination of pregnancy, was approved by 493 votes to 30.
After the vote, French Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti said, “Tonight, the National Assembly and the Government did not miss the day to meet with history.”
In particular, French MPs approved the addition of the following formula to Article 34: “Law, guaranteed freedom women resorting to voluntary termination of pregnancy“.
Decline in other countries
During the debate in the parliament, most political parties emphasized that the right to abortion is not currently in question in France, but there is a clear debate on this issue. Setbacks in other countries such as the United States, Poland or Hungary.
Given the possibility of a similar drift in France, the presence of this “guaranteed freedom” in the Constitution would protect women in this country from the elimination of the right to abortion through ordinary legislation promoted by a potentially reactionary majority.
“This vote goes beyond political differences and shows that: The fight for women’s rights knows no partisan boundaries“, Éléonore Caroit, Macronist representative of the Latin American and Caribbean constituency, stated in her comments to EFE.
In addition to the support of macronist simple majority groups, left formations such as socialists, insumisos and ecologists were also positioned in favor of the project.
On the right, Republican conservatives expressed greater reservations; Set time limits to protect life or ensure medical conscientious objectionhowever, MPs were free to vote in favour.
The same view was shared by Marine Le Pen’s far-right lawmakers, who criticized the government’s move as unnecessary while ignoring existing problems such as farmers’ discontent.
The process will continue in the Senate
After the overwhelming approval of MPs, The bill will continue to be processed in the SenateIt would have to adopt exactly the same version of the text in February.
There, the outlook is a little less clear, although the Government has chosen to use the concept of “”.guaranteed freedomInstead of the “right” abortion preferred by the left and feminist organizations, an attempt will be made to reach a compromise between the chambers.
If the Senate also gives the green light, lawmakers from both chambers will need to meet in Congress in Versailles and pass the bill with at least a three-fifths majority.
There is only one historical example of abortion being included in the Magna Carta: 1974 Constitution of the Former Yugoslavia.
The right to abortion has existed in France since 1975, thanks to legislation supported by Simone Veil, an important political figure whose legacy is remembered by many legislators in the Parliament today.