The White House on Thursday denounced the new law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, passed by the Florida legislature, as “extreme and dangerous”.
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“Today, the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature sent an extreme and dangerous new law to the Office of Governor (Ron) DeSantis for signature,” US Executive Branch Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a release.
Approved by 70 votes in favor and 40 against by the elected officials of this southeastern state, the law must indeed be signed into law by the rising star of the American populist right and possible White House contender, Ron DeSantis, who already has her has indicated its intention to announce it.
The enactment of this ban will make Florida one of the states that most restricts abortion without outlawing it since a year ago the conservative-judiciary-dominated US Supreme Court overturned the territory’s constitutional protections for abortion, leaving the various as is states are free to legislate.
This legislation also marks a new resounding victory for anti-abortion advocates in the United States at a time when the future of the abortion pill is under threat, after restrictions on access to the brand were ruled by an appeals court on Thursday.
The only exceptions allowed by Florida law are those of “serious risk” to the health of the woman or a fatal fetal abnormality, and in the case of rape or incest within the 15 week limit of gestation.
“This law prohibits legal abortion, but it will not stop the practice of abortion. Abortions are simply performed in private, without medical supervision, and with an increased risk to women’s health and physical and mental well-being,” said Lindsay Cross, a Florida Democrat.
Florida banned abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy in April 2022.