France’s Parliament voted 780-72 to establish a constitutional right to abortion via the 25th amendment to the French Fifth Republic’s constitution, which was ratified in 1958.
The amendment is mostly symbolic, however, as abortion has been legal up to 10 weeks after conception since the Veil Act in 1975. In 2001 abortion was legalized into the 12th week, and in 2022 legalized into the 14th week. Abortions after 14 weeks are permitted until birth in certain cases upon recommendation by physicians.
French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the constitutional amendment, stating on X, “French pride, universal message. Let us celebrate together the entry of a new freedom guaranteed in the Constitution by the first sealing ceremony in our history open to the public. See you this March 8, International Women’s Rights Day.”
The vice president of the National Assembly, Hélène Laporte, said no political party challenges French laws on abortion: “No political party calls into question the right to abortion in our country. In reality, the day after this Congress, nothing will have changed for women.”
Marine Le Pen, the president of the National Rally group in the National Assembly, wrote on X, “We will vote for the constitutionalization of abortion even if no one in France endangers its access. This constitutionalization is perhaps the only ‘victory’ that Emmanuel Macron will have to put on his record after ten years.”
And the president of the Socialist group in the Senate, Patrick Kanner, celebrated the amendment on X: “Today France is rediscovering the thread of its history, the history of the country of human rights which gives courage everywhere, to all those who struggle. Long live feminism, long live the Republic, long live France! » Thank you @laurossignol #IVGDansLaConstitution”
