France: Macron promises a bill to include abortion in the Constitution
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech in tribute to the feminist figure and French lawyer Gisèle Halimi, this Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in Paris.
AP - Michel Euler
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
On the occasion of International Women's Rights Day, this Wednesday, March 8, Emmanuel Macron paid a national tribute to feminist lawyer Gisèle Halimi.
At the Paris courthouse, the French president also announced that he was going to present a bill, "
in the coming months
", to include voluntary termination of pregnancy in the Constitution.
A word expected by feminist associations.
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With our special correspondent at the Paris courthouse,
Julien Chavanne
The airstrip was clear for the Élysée.
The Assembly and then the Senate validated the inclusion of voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG) in the Constitution.
In the middle of his tribute to Gisèle Halimi, the Head of State therefore takes the next step: “
Gisèle Halimi,
he says,
with his words, had the law changed.
And today I want the strength of this message to help us change our Constitution, in order to engrave the freedom of women to resort to voluntary termination of pregnancy.
»
To solemnly assure that nothing can hinder or undo what will thus be irreversible;
to also send a universal message of solidarity to all women who today see this freedom violated...
Tribute to Gisèle Halimi: excerpt from President Macron's speech
Julien Chavanne
The “freedom” to abort, rather than a “right”
Freedom, the word chosen by Emmanuel Macron is important.
It is the one that the right-wing senators preferred, while the deputies defend the notion of the right to abortion.
But for the head of the Macronist deputies, Aurore Bergé, the main thing is the promise of the president.
“
What matters,
according to her,
is to have this commitment from the President of the Republic which is very clear and which means that once again, we have demonstrated that there is a way and in the National Assembly and in the Senate, so yes, I believe that this is a historic moment that we experienced and that we will experience, I believe, very soon with the adoption in Congress of this amendment to the Constitution.
»
An adviser to Emmanuel Macron deciphers: talking about freedom to abort is the most consensual formula.
Because the Head of State will need the vote of three-fifths of Parliament to modify the Constitution, including the voice of the opposition.
To Gisèle Halimi.https://t.co/6jTBieJ1Wn
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 8, 2023
► To read also France: controversy around the tribute to Gisèle Halimi, symbol of the fight for women's rights
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