Despite the reluctance of some right-wing and centrist senators, who hold a majority in the upper house, 267 members voted in favor and 50 against, which would make France the first country in the world to include the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy. In the constitution..
The French Senate today approved the inclusion of abortion in the constitution, dispelling the last doubts surrounding the historic final adoption of the measure during a congress that convenes in Versailles on Monday.
Despite the reluctance of some right-wing and centrist senators, who hold a majority in the upper house, 267 members voted in favor and 50 against, which would make France the first country in the world to include the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy. In the constitution..
“After the National Assembly, I welcome a decisive move by the Senate. For a final vote, I will convene Parliament in Congress. [senadores e deputados] March 4”, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on the X Network.
Justice Minister Eric DuPont-Moretti opened the debate in the Senate, speaking of “a historic day” that would make France “the first country in the world to protect in its constitution the freedom of women to dispose of their bodies”.
Macron reached a momentary compromise on a mandate that he has faced many difficulties implementing, with broad opposition to certain laws such as pension reform or immigration law.
The constitutional review will amend Article 34, which now includes a “guarantee of women's freedom to voluntarily terminate pregnancy.”
Although he recognized that the right to abortion was not currently threatened in France, the Minister of Justice considered it necessary to register abortions “where the majority will not be able to question it in the future”.
Eric DuPont-Moretti recalled the case of the United States, but also Hungary or Poland, where conservative parties restricted the right to abortion, and highlighted that this could also happen in France in the future.
After overwhelming approval in the Assembly at the end of January, a more tense debate was expected in the Senate due to its conservative makeup.
While senators debated, a small group of anti-abortion activists demonstrated outside the Senate, while others demonstrated a short distance away in support of the new measure.
The text still needs three-fifths of senators and representatives to be formally approved, but the most delicate step in the process was completed today.
By dedicating the law, it would be more difficult to change the constitution because a three-fifths majority is required to re-amend it.
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