The American House of Representatives, recently controlled by the Republicans, adopted on Wednesday January 11 two anti-abortion texts, with a largely symbolic scope.

A way for the Conservatives to satisfy their base, after having exposed their divisions to the big day last week during a difficult vote for the election of their “speaker”.

The first resolution, supported Wednesday by all Republicans, condemns the attacks against "establishments, associations and anti-abortion churches".

The text specifically refers to the acts of violence that took place from May 2, 2022, when a leak revealed that the Supreme Court of the United States planned to soon blast the right to abortion.

The resolution accuses, among other things, “the Biden administration of failing to take measures to respond to these radical attacks”. 

The second text requires doctors present during an abortion "to provide appropriate care" to try to "save" the aborted fetus.

The family planning organization Planned Parenthood strongly criticized the resolution which "is nothing more than a fear manipulation strategy aimed at stigmatizing abortion".

Limited scope

The vast majority of Democrats voted against these measures, their leader Hakeem Jeffries believing that the decision to have an abortion "should only be made between a woman, her family and her doctors, period".

The scope of these two texts is however limited, because they have no chance of passing the stage of the Senate, of which the Democrats retain control.

The Republicans' offensive against abortion rights could also be a double-edged sword, with the majority of Americans - including in conservative states - supporting its protection.

With AFP

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