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The three-fifths majority required for this was achieved at a meeting of both chambers of parliament in Versailles.
The members of the National Assembly and the senators enshrined voluntary abortion in the French constitution with 780 votes to 72.
The following sentence will be added to the Basic Law as Article 34: “The law determines the conditions under which the woman’s guaranteed freedom to have a voluntary abortion is exercised.”
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal spoke of a “moral guilt” towards all women who suffered because they had illegal abortions. He was happy about the “successful conclusion of a long battle”.
This “fundamental step will go down in history,” said Attal, recalling that the right to voluntary abortion remains “in danger” and “at the mercy of those who decide on it.”
When the voting results were announced, there was long applause in the “Aile du Midi” salon in the Palace of Versailles, which was introduced by the President of the National Assembly, Yael Braun-Pivet.
At the same time, joy erupted in the Place du Trocadéro in Paris. Thousands had gathered in front of a huge screen that showed the deliberations from Versailles live. Then, to celebrate the event, the Eiffel Tower began to light up with a projection with the inscription “Mon corps, mon choix” (My body, my choice).
Legend:
Projection after the vote at the Eiffel Tower.
Reuters/SAA
Criticism of the political act
During the vote, several hundred anti-abortion activists gathered near Versailles to protest against the constitutional amendment.
The Catholic Church also criticized it. The Pontifical Academy for Life said: “In the age of universal human rights, there can be no ‘right’ to destroy human life.”
And Marine Le Pen from the Rassemblement National said Macron was just trying to score political points with the constitutional change because abortion rights were supported across the country.
“We have no problem with including this in the constitution,” she said before the vote. But it is a complete exaggeration to call this a historic step because “no one is questioning the right to abortion in France.”
Legend:
Excitement: In Paris, thousands of abortion supporters gathered in front of a huge screen that showed the consultation from Versailles live.
Keystone / OLEG CETINIC
Pascale Morinière, doctor and president of the Association of Catholic Families, emphasized that there is no need to write the right to abortion into the constitution.
The debate in France came about because the USA revoked this right by overturning the Roe v. Wade had picked up. “There was a panic effect from feminist movements that wanted to engrave this on the marble of the Constitution,” said Morinière.
Abortions up to the tenth week of pregnancy have been unpunished in France since 1975. Pregnant women in France can now have an abortion up to the 14th week; the costs are covered by the health insurance company.
French pride
“French pride, universal message.” With these words, President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Congress’ vote.
“Let us celebrate together the incorporation of a new guaranteed freedom into the Constitution through the first publicly accessible sealing ceremony in our history. See you this March 8th, International Women’s Rights Day,” wrote Emmanuel Macron on X.