French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday regretted the “questioning” by the United States Supreme Court of women’s freedoms, stressing that “abortion is a fundamental right for all women”. “It must be protected. I express my solidarity with the women whose freedoms are today challenged by the Supreme Court of the United States of America,” he tweeted. The very conservative Supreme Court of the United States on Friday buried a judgment which, for nearly half a century, guaranteed the right of American women to abortion but had never been accepted by the religious right. In the wake of the decision, several American states have already announced that they are taking measures to prohibit voluntary terminations of pregnancy on their territory.
Abortion is a fundamental right for all women. It must be protected. I express my solidarity with the women whose freedoms are today challenged by the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
—Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 24, 2022
Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne also lamented on Twitter “a dark day for women’s rights”. “Total solidarity with all women in the United States and around the world. We will not give up on our rights, ever,” she continued.
A dark day for women’s rights. Total solidarity with all women in the United States and around the world. We will never give up for our rights.
— Elisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) June 24, 2022
Cascading reactions
In France, the decision caused many politicians to react. “Great misfortune”, tweeted the leader of rebellious France, Jean-Luc Melenchon. “Trump’s country legalizes the carrying of weapons in the streets and allows the ban on abortion. Alert: we know the channels of contagion from the USA to France”, he warned.
Misfortune. Trump’s country legalizes carrying guns on the streets and allows abortion bans. Alert: we know the channels of contagion from the USA to France.
— Jean-Luc Melenchon (@JLMelenchon) June 24, 2022
“To prevent any obstacle to the fundamental right”, the leader of the rebellious deputies Mathilde Panot announced on Twitter, that she would propose “from Monday to the Nupes to file a bill to include the right to abortion in the Constitution” French.
The tragedy across the Atlantic obliges us.
To prevent any obstacle to the fundamental right of abortion in France, I propose on Monday to the NUPES to file a bill to include it in the Constitution.
— Mathilde Panot (@MathildePanot) June 24, 2022
Former EELV presidential candidate Yannick Jadot deplored “an absolute regression for women’s rights in the United States” and “a terrible signal for the rest of the world”. “Complacency with the far right always has dramatic consequences. There as here,” he tweeted.
An absolute regression for women’s rights in the United States. A terrible signal for the rest of the world. Complacencies with the extreme right always have dramatic consequences. There as here. https://t.co/f8jJvxfXq7
—Yannick Jadot (@yjadot) June 24, 2022
“The risk of the far right”
“The consequences of Trump’s appointments, that’s the risk of the far right. A serious setback for women’s rights, a danger to women’s lives. Nothing is certain: never give up on anything for the right to abortion and to freely dispose of one’s body, for all”, tweeted the leader of the socialist deputies, Boris Vallaud.
The consequences of Trump’s appointments, that’s the risk of the far right. A serious setback for women’s rights, a threat to women’s lives.
Nothing is acquired: never let go of anything for the right to abortion and to freely dispose of your body, for all. https://t.co/Ygl6RFf06w
— Boris VALLAUD (@BorisVallaud) June 24, 2022
“Nine judges have therefore decided on the lives of thousands of women who each year will no longer have access to a fundamental right”, regretted the head of LREM deputies in the National Assembly, Aurore Bergé.
9 judges have therefore decided on the lives of thousands of women who each year will no longer have access to a fundamental right.
Our freedoms are fragile. Even more so when it comes to women’s rights. In France, we are making them progress. We will continue.#RoeVsWadehttps://t.co/WdPwQtHymi
— Aurore Bergé (@auroreberge) June 24, 2022
The boss of the communists Fabien Roussel denounced “a disaster and a terrible regression for women who will no longer be free to dispose of their bodies”.
The Supreme Court revokes the right to abortion. States will be free to prohibit it…
It is a catastrophe and a terrible regression for women who will no longer be free to dispose of their bodies.#mybodymychoicehttps://t.co/41EK4396tq— Fabien Roussel (@Fabien_Roussel) June 24, 2022
The LR mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi sees it as “a terrible step back, an attack on the freedoms and rights of women” and “an insult to the memory of those who fought for this right, like Simone Veil in France”.
The decision of the US Supreme Court revoking the right to abortion is a terrible step backwards, an attack on the freedoms and rights of women. This regression is also an insult to the memory of those who fought for this right, like Simone Veil at https://t.co/gkXRpnYP3z
—Christian Estrosi (@cestrosi) June 24, 2022