The French National Assembly voted by a large majority to enshrine the right to abortion in the constitution. 337 deputies voted yes on Thursday, 32 voted against. This was a “historic victory for women in France and around the world”, said left-wing populist MP Mathilde Panot. The project is dedicated to women in the USA, Poland and Hungary, where the right to an abortion is under threat.
The approved resolution provides for the following sentence to be inserted into the constitution: “The law guarantees (…) equal access to the right to voluntary abortion.”
Sacha Houlié, who belongs to President Emmanuel Macron’s political camp and chairs the Law Commission of the National Assembly, also spoke of a “big step”. “But it’s just a first step,” he said. Because a constitutional amendment also requires Senate approval. A referendum must then be held.
Senate approval is anything but certain. The chamber rejected a similar initiative in October. Abortion was legalized in France in 1975.