French Senate approves enshrining abortion in Constitution in historic vote

On Wednesday, French senators widely voted in favour (267 for, 50 against) of enshrining in the constitution “the guaranteed freedom” of women “to have recourse to a voluntary interruption of pregnancy”.

After the National Assembly’s vote at the end of January, the Senate’s green light was the final stage of this historic decision of enshrining a woman’s right to an abortion in the country’s constitution.

“I pledged to make women’s freedom to have an abortion irreversible by enshrining it in the Constitution. After the National Assembly, the Senate has taken a decisive step, which I welcome” Emmanuel Macron reacted after the outcome of the vote.

France would be the first country in Europe, but also worldwide, to enshrine abortion in the constitution.

“This is a huge step forward. It is a protection that we owe to all women. It is the recognition of their right to freely dispose of their bodies”, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on X.

The idea of enshrining the right to abortion in the French constitution emerged after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in June 2022 and an increase in Europe of certain movements that seek to restrict the right to abortion and contraception.

But with a right-wing majority in the Senate, its approval was not a foregone conclusion. In January, its president, Gérard Larcher, said he was against the measure, arguing: “I don’t think that abortion is under threat in France”.

“Some of you do not wish to import debates from across the Atlantic. But, [… ] there is no need to go that far. The examples of Poland and Hungary in Europe should be enough to convince you”, Eric Dupond-Moretti, French Minister of Justice, told the senators in a speech before the vote.

“This is a historic decision, for France, but also for Europe and worldwide”, said Dr Alvaro Bermejo, Director-General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), in a press release.

“A year and a half after the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe V. Wade, the French victory is a clear and optimistic message to the international community: abortion is a fundamental freedom”, he added.

Macron announced that he will gather parliamentarians, MPs and senators in Congress for the final vote on Monday, 4 March. A three-fifths majority is required, but there is no doubt that this will be the case after successive votes in the National Assembly and the Senate.

“Although abortion is legal in almost every country in Europe, legal restrictions and barriers remain in place, and there is room for improvement across the continent, including in France”, said Leah Hoctor, Senior Regional Director for Europe at the Center for Reproductive Rights in a press release.

“Today’s vote is an important milestone that we hope will galvanise decision-makers in France and across the region to take the necessary steps”, she concluded.

(Clara Bauer-Babef | Euractiv.fr)