Emmanuel Macron announces the inclusion of abortion in the French Constitution
In a recent announcement, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the draft constitutional law aimed at including voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) in the Constitution would be presented to the Council of Ministers by the end of the year. This measure aims to guarantee the freedom of women to have an irreversible abortion.
This decision follows concerns raised by the cancellation, a year and a half ago in the United States, of the ruling guaranteeing the right to abortion throughout the country. By including abortion in the Constitution, the legislator would make any attempt to suppress or seriously undermine this right more complex.
The path towards the inclusion of abortion in the Constitution was prepared by the leader of the LFI deputies, Mathilde Panot, who had a constitutional bill adopted at first reading in the Assembly in November 2022. The Senate then approved this proposal in February, while opting for the formulation of the “freedom of women” to resort to abortion rather than its “right”.
A three-fifths majority of both houses of Parliament meeting in Congress will be necessary to validate this constitutional revision bill. Although some fear the consequences of a referendum on the subject, due to the mobilization of anti-abortion networks, others support this approach as being the best to guarantee women’s rights.
If the bill is approved, abortion would thus become a fundamental right enshrined in the French Constitution, strengthening protection and access to this essential service for French women.
In conclusion, the inclusion of abortion in the French Constitution would constitute a major step forward in guaranteeing the rights of women to dispose of their bodies and to make decisions in matters of reproductive health. By criminalizing attempts to suppress this right, France would send a clear message of respect for women’s rights and their autonomy.