fFrance legalized abortion in 1975. Since then, the protection of unborn life has been increasingly restricted. Abortions can now be performed up to the 14th week of pregnancy, the costs of which are fully covered by the state health insurance.
The right to abortion is therefore not threatened in France. All major parties, including the Rassemblement National, are sticking to it. Nevertheless, President Emmanuel Macron wants to enshrine it in the constitution in the near future.
He could use the applause from feminist organizations. His government is being pilloried as misogynist, because most of the savings from the pension reform are being asked to pay for mothers with broken careers.
But the president’s main concern is to position France as a counterpoint to the United States. In interviews, he regularly raises doubts about the shared values with America. “Our values are not quite the same,” he said recently.
This was also to be understood as a reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion rights. The constitutional amendment is intended to establish how differently France defines women’s rights.
With his initiative, Macron is pursuing a pan-European plan. The aim is to include the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Among other things, he challenges the Federal Constitutional Court, which has not yet recognized the right to an abortion.