The Council of Ministers approves the protection of abortion in the Constitution against "retrograde dynamics"

On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers approved, in its second attempt, the draft amending Article 43 of the Spanish Constitution       \A0\A0\A0\u00a0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\u00\A0\A0\u00\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\A0\\\\⚯

The State Government spokeswoman, Elma Saiz, has said that the aim of the project is to advance the social and legal recognition of women's right to self-determination in the face of"retrograde dynamics that are trying to make room".

The text has been promoted by the Ministry of Equality. The Minister, Ana Redondo, explained at a press conference that it has been approved by the Council of State as "fully constitutional". The proposal adds a paragraph 4 to Article 43 of the Constitution with the phrase "The public authorities shall guarantee the right of women to voluntary termination of pregnancy, with all the necessary benefits and services, under conditions of real and effective equality".

Redondo has explained that the Government intends to "shield" the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy in public health and "strengthen the obligation of the State asa whole to ensure that pregnancy is carried out in appropriate health conditions ".

The Minister recalled that 79% of abortion practices are currently carried out in private centres and 20% in public centres. He specifically mentioned the Autonomous Communities of Madrid and Andalusia, where he criticised the fact that only 1% of abortions are carried out in public health, while in Cantabria or Galicia 60% are carried out in public hospitals.

Parliamentary procedure

Constitutional reform requires a three-fifths majorityin both Congress and the Senate, meaning that members of the government should reach agreement with opposition parties.

In the event of disagreement, a Joint Congressional Senate Committee should be set up to propose a new text and a new vote, in which case the reform could be approved by a two-thirds majority in Congress and by an absolute majority in the Senate.

Minister Redondo has admitted that the parliamentary process will be "complex," but has stressed that it has "the capacity for agreement," and recalled the State Pact against Gender Violence (not Vox, which he advanced with the approval of all other parties).

In the Minister's view, the People's Party "will haveto assess who it owes: idea or its women, its voters; ultimately Aaken, whether it is due to improving and guaranteeing women's rights. "It has also advocated" shared responsibility "and called for the abandonment of" ideological attractions that do not solve people's problems and leave many women at the feet of horses. "