He Spanish government approved this Tuesday to shield and guarantee the right to abortion in public healthcare through the reform of the Constitution, although it will be difficult to move forward with the proposal because it requires a large majority in Congress and the Senate.
He Spanish government approved this Tuesday to shield and guarantee the right to abortion in public healthcare through the reform of the Constitution, although it will be difficult to move forward with the proposal because it requires a large majority in Congress and the Senate.
This reform, which requires a three-fifths majority in the Spanish Parliament, is being promoted because the Executive chaired by the socialist Pedro Sánchez wants to “protect” the right to voluntary interruption of pregnancy in public health and “reinforce the obligation to guarantee its exercise under appropriate sanitary conditions throughout the national territory.”
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The aim is to follow the example of Francewhich in March 2024 became the first country in the world to explicitly shield the right to abortion in its Constitution.
At its meeting this Tuesday, the Council of Ministers approved the bill to reform article 43 of the Magna Carga after obtaining a favorable report from the Council of State, which sees the Executive’s proposal as “constitutional”.
The spokesperson for the Spanish Government, Elma Saiz, said during the press conference after the meeting that progress is being made in the social and legal recognition of women’s right to self-determination and its necessary protection “in the face of the regressive dynamics that are trying to make room.”
Image of the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and Government spokesperson, Elma Saiz and the Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo. Photo: EFE/ Fernando Villar
“Women’s freedom is not at risk, but the real and effective exercise throughout the national territory is,” stated the Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, who detailed that 79% of abortion practices are carried out in private centers and only 20% in public centers.
To move forward in the Spanish Parliament, the reform must have the favorable vote of the conservative Popular Party (PP), the main opposition party, which was already against the idea when the Government proposed it last year.
The proposed reform of article 43 of the Spanish Constitution introduces point 4 to indicate the following: “Public powers will guarantee the exercise of women’s right to voluntary interruption of pregnancy under conditions of real and effective equality, with whatever benefits and services are necessary.”
