Virginie Riva 9:37 a.m., September 28, 2021

On the occasion of the world day of the right to abortion, Tuesday, return on the bill aiming to extend the period of abortion from 12 to 14 weeks.

It is currently lost in the limbo of parliamentary procedure, to the chagrin of associations.

But even the majority are divided on the subject.

This has been a long-standing request for associations such as Family Planning: to lengthen the time limits for voluntary termination of pregnancy.

This weekend, pro-abortion associations were also in the street to claim it.

It must be said that a law, approved at first reading by the National Assembly, proposed to extend this period from 12 to 14 weeks.

Rejected by the Senate, mainly Republican, returned to the Assembly where the Republicans obstructed, it could not be studied ... and is today in limbo of parliamentary procedure.

Give women time to learn and make their decisions

For its defenders, the text would give women the time to learn about their rights and make their decision.

"Today, the deadlines are too short and 3,000 to 5,000 women go abroad each year to have an abortion", explains Albane Gaillot, ex-LREM member who carried this bill.

"Other countries, like Spain, are at 14 weeks. In Sweden it's 18 weeks."

According to her, the women forced to go abroad "are not necessarily the most precarious" because "it is not a question of cost, but also of information".

"We are talking about the youngest women or those victims of domestic violence," points out the deputy.

Sensitive subject within the majority

The Ethics Advisory Committee has even given the green light. But for the National College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of France, this is not the solution. Its secretary general, Geoffroy Robin, invokes "a larger fetus", "so it is more difficult with, theoretically, more risk of complications during the operation". "But that's not necessarily the main problem," he admits. "For us in France, we should be able to facilitate access to technical platforms that perform abortion as soon as possible."

Geoffroy Robin also recalls that abortion for psycho-social reasons is possible until the end of the pregnancy.

While Tuesday is the international day for the right to abortion, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, should be questioned on the subject during Questions to the government in the Assembly.

The extension of the period of abortion remains a sensitive subject within the majority, Emmanuel Macron is not in favor, while Christophe Castaner, boss of LREM deputies, is committed to.