France has become the world's first country to constitutionally guarantee the right to abortion, a groundbreaking move celebrated by women's rights activists but met with criticism from anti-abortion groups. In a special joint vote of the parliament's two houses at Versailles Palace, 780 votes in favor and 72 against marked overwhelming support for this historic decision.
Abortion rights activists in central Paris rejoiced as the Eiffel Tower illuminated with the message "MyBodyMyChoice" when the vote results were announced on a giant screen. Although France has had legal abortion rights since a 1974 law, the recent reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling prompted activists to push for explicit protection in France's basic law.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized the importance of the move, stating, "We're sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you." The constitutional amendment, enshrined in Article 34, declares that "the law determines the conditions in which a woman has the guaranteed freedom to have recourse to an abortion."
With polls showing approximately 80% of French people supporting legal abortion, this decision reflects the widespread acceptance of abortion rights in the country. Yael Braun-Pivet, head of the lower house of parliament, declared, "France is at the forefront."
However, criticism surfaced, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen accusing President Emmanuel Macron of exploiting the issue for political gain due to the considerable support for abortion rights in France. Le Pen acknowledged her party's vote in favor but downplayed the historic significance, asserting that the right to abortion was not under threat in the country.
Pascale Moriniere, president of the Association of Catholic Families, called the move a defeat for anti-abortion campaigners, expressing concern for the perceived impact on women and children. She argued against adding the right to abortion to the constitution, describing it as an imported debate not aligned with French values.
As France takes this historic step, the global conversation surrounding abortion rights and constitutional protections is likely to gain momentum, with implications for countries grappling with similar debates.