In world first, France enshrines 'freedom' to abortion into its constitution

France has become the first country in the world to enshrine abortions rights into its constitution. In a rare joint session of parliament, lawmakers on Monday voted overwhelmingly in favor of the amendment, which makes the procedure a "guaranteed freedom."

Of the 852 lawmakers that voted, 780 were in favor, which far exceeded the three-fifths majority needed to amend France's constitution.

The result was met by a long standing ovation - and the slogan "My body, my choice" was projected onto the Eiffel Tower.

After the vote, French President Emmanuel Macron posted "French pride, universal message" on social media. He said there will be a public ceremony marking the historic moment on March 8 to coincide with International Women's Day.

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Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, but with this vote, women in the country are explicitly guaranteed access to abortion care, instead of that care being dependent on an interpretation of the constitution.

The issue of protecting abortion access took on renewed urgency in France after a conservative U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, reversing 50 years of abortion precedent. There has also been a tightening of abortion access under conservative leadership in parts of Europe in recent years, most notably Hungary and Poland.

‌Lawmakers did not want to be vulnerable to a similar regression, especially as the far right gains popularity with voters.

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Macron critics say he's pandering for votes ahead of EU elections

But critics of President Macron said the vote was nothing more than a political stunt and that abortion rights in the country have never been under threat.

The leader of the far-right RN party, Marine Le Pen, said on social media that lawmakers were voting "for the constitutionalization of abortion even if no one in France endangers its access."

She added: "This constitutionalization is perhaps the only 'victory' that Emmanuel Macron will have to put on his record after 10 years."

‌Critics claimed the issue was an easy victory for the President's Renaissance Party ahead of EU elections in June, when the far right is expected to gain seats. ‌Polls show that 85 percent of the public support abortion access, and roughly 230,000 terminations are performed every year in France.

‌Roughly 600 anti-abortion demonstrators protested outside Versailles Palace as the vote was taking place. Some held signs which read "shame" and "I too was an embryo."

‌This is only the 25th amendment to France's founding document and the first since 2008.

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