Paris (AFP)

Ten hours of debates and peaks of tension: the National Assembly adopted at first reading a bill aiming to extend the legal deadline for abortion, but its examination has revived passions on this subject deemed "sensitive" by the government, cautious of the majority.

The text which extends the legal period of access to abortion from 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy (16 weeks of amenorrhea), was voted by 86 votes for, 59 against and 7 abstentions, most political groups being divided .

It is now the Senate's turn to take it up.

Due to a lack of practitioners and the gradual closure of abortion centers, several weeks often elapse between the first appointment and the operation.

Each year, between 3,000 and 4,000 "late" women would go abroad to have an abortion, according to a parliamentary report published in 2000.

Hoots, bronca or conversely bursts of applause: the debates between the supporters of the text and its opponents, from the right and former "marchers" like Joachim Son-Forget and Agnès Thill, have resurfaced the ghosts of discussions on the Veil law, adopted 45 years ago.

"We are waiting for women to be able to experience their access to abortion as they wish. The obstacles continue in our country", thundered the elected LREM Aurore Bergé.

"Nobody questions the right to abortion", have repeatedly defended right-wing parliamentarians.

The former LREM Matthieu Orphelin, president of the EDS group (Ecology, democracy, solidarity) who had put this text on the agenda, congratulated himself on having "held firm": "The fights for the rights of women are always difficult against the conservatives.

From left to right, almost all deputies invoked the manes of Simone Veil, who died in 2017, who passed the law decriminalizing the use of voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion), to defend their positions.

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran had immediately qualified the subject of "sensitive", even "premature".

The government had chosen to advance with caution on a ground that it considers too undermined to be debated in a parliamentary "niche".

An opinion widely shared on the right.

Supported by EDS deputy Albane Gaillot, the bill obtained broad support from LREM.

It follows a parliamentary report by the Assembly's delegation for Women's Rights which advocated this measure on the delay in abortion.

- "Pontius Pilate" -

While the majority allies MoDem and Agir were mostly opposed to the reform, the whole of the left supported the bill.

It is also from the LFI group that the pleas were brought with the most enthusiasm, like Jean-Luc Mélenchon or Clémentine Autain, who said that she herself had an abortion but came up against a question. of "delay".

From the right to the centrists, opponents have scrapped in each article and criticized provisions they consider to come "unbalance" the Veil law, as pointed out by Jean-Christophe Lagarde (UDI) or Jean-Louis Bourlanges (MoDem).

In their sights: the removal of the specific conscience clause for doctors and midwives, which maintains abortion "in a separate status" while "it is an act of health like any other", according to Mrs. Gaillot.

An assertion that bristled opponents.

"This text does not represent + progress + but a purely ideological drift", tweeted the president of RN Marine Le Pen.

For the government, the partition is delicate.

Olivier Véran recalled that it was essential to wait for the opinion of the National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE), which the government seized on Tuesday, "to do a complete job" and to enlighten the debates.

He must give his opinion in November, probably before going to the Senate.

The government had a "position of wisdom" by relying on the decision of the deputies, according to Olivier Véran.

"A policy of Pontius Pilate" castigated by Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (DLF).

"Sometimes the best is the enemy of the good", argued Olivier Véran, highlighting for example the risk "of collapse in the number of gynecologists" wishing to perform an abortion.

© 2020 AFP