In a major decision, the French Senate has voted to include the right to abortion in the Constitution.
This step is important for protecting women’s rights to choose about their bodies. The decision has caused a lot of talk in France.
What Just Happened?
The French Senate, with 267 votes for and 50 against, agreed to add to the Constitution the right for women to choose to have an abortion. This matches what the National Assembly, another important group in the French government, wants. Next week, a special meeting will happen to make this change official.
The Big Discussion:
- Government and Others: The government, with support from left-leaning groups, wants this change in the Constitution. This was a promise made by President Emmanuel Macron. But, some groups on the right and in the middle don’t agree with how the change is written.
- People Against It: Important people in the Senate who don’t want this change include Gérard Larcher, the leader of the Senate, and others.
- What’s Next: The Senate’s decision sets up a big meeting where senators and deputies will vote. They need a lot of votes for the change to happen.
Main Points of the Debate
Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti talked about the change. He said it’s about three things: women’s right to choose, doctors’ right to choose not to do abortions, and respecting everyone’s dignity. He said that letting women choose about abortion is very important for democracy.
How They Decided:
- Balancing Different Views: The government’s final decision is a mix of what the Assembly and the Senate said before. The Assembly talked about “the right to abortion,” and the Senate talked about “freedom.”
- Doctors’ Choice: A big part of the discussion was about doctors’ right to choose not to do abortions. This has been a rule since 1975. Doctors who don’t want to do abortions must tell the patient and help them find another doctor.
Why This Matters Now
This change in France comes after the U.S. changed its rules about abortion. It’s part of a bigger effort to make sure women can choose about their bodies, especially when some groups are trying to change this.
What’s Coming Next
Even with this change, getting an abortion in France can still be hard. The goal of this change is to make it easier for women to get the help they need.
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