The right to abortion is guaranteed by the constitution in France Historic third term: China’s People’s Congress confirms Xi’s office

Emmanuel Macron said on International Women’s Day that women should be free to terminate an unwanted pregnancy and that this right should be enshrined in the constitution. The fundamental right review should be ready for a decision “within months”.

The goal is clear, even if it is not stated: a government should no longer fundamentally question abortion rights. This is particularly feared after a possible victory of the right-wing populists in the 2027 presidential election.

However, your candidate Le Pen has spoken out in favor of the possibility of an abortion up to 14 weeks in case of a noticeable mood swing; after some hesitation she is even in favor of inclusion in the constitution.

All parties in France insist on what is arguably the most liberal abortion law in Europe. The «interruption volontaire de grossesse», popularly known as «IVG», dates back to the early 1970s in France.

The costs of the intervention are reimbursed by health insurance and a counseling session, as in Germany, is not compulsory in France. Just like condoms, the morning-after pill is now available in pharmacies without a prescription.

In the first debates in recent months, both the National Assembly and the Senate have proposed such a constitutional revision. According to surveys, 81 percent of French people support its inclusion in the constitution. The Catholic Church tends to be reticent about the IVG issue as it is hardly heard about anymore.

In any case, the state leadership felt compelled to avoid the possibility of a referendum: now that the president has formally taken the initiative, a three-fifths majority in the combined chambers of parliament is sufficient. If they had initiated the constitutional revision themselves, a referendum would have been necessary afterwards.

With the revision, Macron also sends a political signal to the left. It is no coincidence that his announcement was made during the violent protests against the highly controversial pension reform. However, it seems questionable whether the president will be able to temper or at least somewhat distract the strikers.

In standing up for women’s rights, Macron also follows his country’s claim to civilization. And this in particular with regard to the US. In France, even more than in other countries, there is outrage over the backsliding of abortion laws in individual US states.

That was also the case in June 2022, when the highest US court delivered the emblematic judgment ‘Roe v. Wade’: On the same day, voices were heard in Paris calling for constitutional protection of the liberal French abortion law.

The president of the “Fondation des femmes”, Anne-Cécile Mailfert, expressed the hope that the French constitutional reform “will also have a very strong impact internationally” and “support women activists all over the world”.