Buenos Aires (AFP)

Already approved by the deputies, a law legalizing abortion in Argentina is debated Tuesday in the Senate where the balance of power between the "for" and "against" suggests an intense debate and a very close vote.

In 2018, the senators had already rejected by seven votes a similar text which authorized the voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, in a country still very Catholic and deeply divided on the issue.

For the moment, abortion is only allowed in cases of rape or danger to the mother's life, according to a law dating from 1921.

After the favorable vote of the deputies on December 11 - 131 votes in favor, 117 against and 6 abstentions - all eyes are now on the Upper House, deemed to be more conservative.

The parliamentary session will begin at 4:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. GMT) and the vote should take place overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Center-left president Alberto Fernandez, in power since the end of 2018, had promised during his campaign to resubmit the legalization of abortion to parliamentarians.

"I am Catholic, but I must legislate for everyone, it is a very serious public health issue," the Head of State recently argued.

But all the senators of his majority are not in favor of the text.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, pro-abortion and anti-abortion activists planned to gather in front of Parliament on Tuesday to express their support or their rejection of the text.

The Catholic Church and Evangelicals have launched a call to "unite to implore respect and care for the life to be born", with a day of fasting and prayer.

Recognizable by their sky blue scarf, opponents plan to pray in front of Parliament until the results are announced.

"As two years ago, the Conference of Argentine Bishops (CEA) lobbied against the law with governors, officials and parliamentarians, and Pentecostal churches occupy the public space", analysis for AFP sociologist Fortunato Mallimaci.

- Conscientious objection -

The pro-abortion, rallied around the color green, made an intense campaign on social networks.

In particular the Campaign for a legal, safe and free abortion, which brings together more than 300 feminist organizations, already very mobilized in 2018.

"The strategy of criminalization, of stigmatization, of restriction of freedoms which historically suffered women and the bodies of pregnant women, has lasted long enough!", Launched on social networks Fabiola Heredia, director of the Museum of Anthropology of the University of Cordoba (center).

Only 70 senators, out of 72, are expected to participate in the vote: one senator was suspended after a complaint for sexual assault and ex-president Carlos Menem (1989-1999), 90 years old and known for his anti-abortion positions, is hospitalized.

In case of a tie, the ex-president (2008-2015) and current vice-president Cristina Kirchner, in favor of abortion, should participate in the vote, as provided by law.

According to the government, between 370,000 and 520,000 clandestine abortions are performed each year in the country of 44 million inhabitants, where 38,000 women are hospitalized for complications during clandestine abortions.

Maria, 35, a graduate in international relations, had an abortion at 19.

She believes that "legalization is necessary because desperation leads to abortion anyway."

"At no time have I regretted my decision," said the thirty-something who prefers not to give her last name.

To try to convince the senators to vote for the text, it includes the possibility for doctors to assert their "conscientious objection".

At the same time, another bill, which will also be debated on Tuesday by senators, created an allowance of "1,000 days" intended to support mothers during their pregnancy and the first years of the child, so as to reduce abortions. for economic reasons.

If the text on legalization is adopted, Argentina would join Cuba, Uruguay, Guyana and the province of Mexico, the only ones to allow abortion without conditions in Latin America.

In 2010, the South American country authorized same-sex marriage and approved in 2012 and a law on gender identity.

© 2020 AFP