France: Parliament votes to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution

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MPs from the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise (LFI) celebrate the vote

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GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP

The French National Assembly voted by a large majority to enshrine the right to abortion in the constitution.

337 MPs voted yes, 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 abortion is under threat.

The adopted 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 National Assembly's Law Committee, also spoke of a "big step".

"But it's only a first step," he emphasized.

Because for a constitutional amendment, the approval of the Senate is also necessary.

A referendum must then be held.

Senate approval is anything but certain.

The chamber had rejected a similar initiative in October.

Abortion was legalized in France in 1975.

According to organizations, however, abortions are still largely taboo.

atb/AFP