The French Senate made a significant stride on Wednesday by approving a bill aimed at embedding a woman's right to abortion into the constitution, marking a pivotal development in President Emmanuel Macron's pledged legislative agenda in response to the erosion of abortion rights in the United States.
The Senate's endorsement of the bill follows the National Assembly's resounding approval of the proposal in January, setting the stage for the legislation's anticipated passage by a three-fifths majority during a forthcoming joint session of parliament next week.
Expressing his commitment to solidifying women's reproductive rights, Macron underscored the government's determination to safeguard the right to abortion by constitutionally enshrining it. In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Macron announced plans to convene a joint parliamentary session for the final vote on Monday.
The proposed amendment seeks to modify Article 34 of the constitution to specify that "the law determines the conditions under which women may freely seek abortion, a right that is guaranteed."
With 267 senators voting in favor and 50 opposed, Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti hailed the historic nature of the vote, emphasizing that the Senate has advanced women's rights by taking this decisive step.
Notably, none of France's major political parties represented in parliament have contested the right to abortion, which was legalized in 1975. Given the endorsement from both chambers of parliament, the upcoming joint session at the Palace of Versailles is anticipated to be largely ceremonial.
The government's rationale for introducing the bill underscores concerns over threats to abortion rights, particularly in the United States, where the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn a longstanding precedent has cast uncertainty over the issue.
The legislative introduction also highlights global challenges to reproductive rights, citing instances such as Poland, where contentious amendments to abortion laws sparked widespread protests. In 2020, the Polish constitutional court's ruling severely restricted access to abortion, drawing international condemnation and sparking demonstrations across the country.
