By AFP
Spain’s left-wing government has proposed enshrining abortion rights in the country’s constitution, sparking heated debate. The move follows a controversial decision by Madrid’s city hall, which is governed by the conservative Popular Party (PP), to alert women about a supposed “post-abortion syndrome.”
The PP’s proposal claims this syndrome could result in issues like substance abuse, suicidal tendencies, and a higher risk of cancer, suggesting that such information has been “deliberately hidden.” Additionally, the proposal accuses feminist movements of pushing abortion as a “business” in a bid to influence women’s decisions.
The decision ignited a public outcry, prompting Madrid’s PP mayor, José Luis Almeida, to clarify that post-abortion syndrome is not a scientifically recognized condition. He also backtracked on the mandatory nature of providing such information to women considering abortion.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded fiercely on social media, accusing the PP of aligning with far-right ideologies. In a bold move, Sánchez announced that his government would present a proposal to the Spanish parliament to protect abortion rights constitutionally.
Amending Spain’s constitution is no simple task. It requires a challenging three-fifths majority in parliament, meaning the government will need support from conservative lawmakers, which may be a tough sell given the current political climate.
Since 1985, Spain has legalized abortion in certain cases, including in instances of rape, severe fetal malformation, or when the mother’s health is at serious risk. The 2010 reform expanded the law, allowing abortion on demand within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Despite this, access to abortion remains difficult, with many public-sector doctors refusing to carry out the procedure.
The call for constitutional protection of abortion rights is not unique to Spain. Last year, France made history by becoming the first country globally to enshrine the right to abortion in its constitution, marking a major step forward in reproductive rights.
