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SPAIN’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez floated a proposal to include abortion in the constitution of the nation amid fears a future government of right-wingers would try to limit women’s reproductive rights.
The idea comes just days after a bitter political row broke out in Madrid over a proposal backed by the conservative Partido Popular (PP) and far-right Vox which would have required women considering an abortion to be made aware of so-called ‘post-abortion depression’ – a pseudo-scientific syndrome with no medical backing.
In response, Sanchez accused the PP of ‘merging with the far-right’.
“That is their choice,” said the socialist Premier on X. “They are free to do that, but they cannot do it at the expense or rights and freedoms of women.”
READ MORE: Backlash in Madrid as Vox pushes ‘pseudoscience warnings’ on women seeking an abortion
He added: “For this reason, we will prevent the provision or misleading or antiscientific information regarding abortion […] Bring to Parliament a proposal to constitutionalise the right of voluntary termination in pregnancy, in line the jurisprudence the Constitutional Court.
The social rights of the people are not going to be regressed by this government.
A government source, quoted in Spanish media, said the measure ‘would block any future rollback that threatens women’s rights’, adding: “In a global context of pushback on sexual and reproductive rights, Spain is taking a step forward to enshrine women’s freedoms and autonomy.”
It is another question whether or not the proposal ever sees the light of the day.
To become part of the Spanish constitution, an amendment must be approved by three-fifths of both the Congresses and Senate.
Failing that, the amendment could pass if it garnered the support of over two-thirds of Congress – although that is highly unlikely given Sanchez’s government’s minority status.
That route would also require the backing of the PP, who have accused the prime minister of using the topic of abortion as a distraction from internal struggles – such as allegations of corruption levied against his wife, brother and former right-hand man.
READ MORE : Abortions rose in Spain by 3% in the year 2024, with women younger than 20 accounting for one tenth.
Juan Bravo, PP’s deputy secretariat, said in an interview that “whenever he wants to hide his corruption issues, he uses sensitive topics to try and create a smokescreen.” RNE.
Bravo sought to firmly reject the idea of constitutional reform, saying that abortion is ‘not a right’, but rather a regulated medical procedure.
Abortion in Spain is currently legal on request until 14 weeks into pregnancy and later if there are serious risks to the health or life of the woman or the fetus.
During the Second Spanish Republic, abortion was briefly liberalised. However, the reforms were reversed under Franco’s dictatorship.
Under the socialist Felipe Gonzalez as premier, the procedure was decriminalised in 1978. Further reforms were then passed by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in 2010.
Last year, the number of abortions increased in Spain by about 3%.
Approximately 11% (or women aged under 20) of all terminations are performed on women.
Abortion rate is currently 12.36 for every 1,000 women aged 15-44 years.
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