The French National Assembly passed, on Tuesday, a government-proposed amendment to enshrine the right to abortion in the constitution. The proposal garnered 493 votes in favour and just 30 against.
To alter the constitution, the Senate – dominated by right-wing and centrist factions – must also give its approval. However, current phrasing has stoked opposition within the Senate’s right-wing majority.
This follows France’s extension of the abortion term limit from 12 to 14 weeks in February 2022, a change supported by President Emmanuel Macron. In contrast, Belgium permits non-medical abortions up to 12 weeks into pregnancy.
In March this year, Macron expressed his intention to embed the right to abortion within the constitution. His announcement came in response to the scrapping of the general right to abortion by the United States Supreme Court, enabling each US state to decide its own abortion laws.
Many conservative States in the United States have since adopted strict abortion legislation.
