Change to the Constitution: Sánchez makes a move to promote reform for the right to abortion

MadridLast October, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez announced that he would reform the Constitution to protect the right to abortion. This Tuesday, the Spanish government has taken a significant step in this direction, as it has approved the draft reform of Article 43 of the Magna Carta, after the green light from the Council of State, with the intention of "constitutionalizing the right to interrupt pregnancy" in its service-provision aspect. That is, not in the abstract sphere of the right, but in its practical sense. However, the eventual reform still has a long parliamentary path ahead, even if it reaches its destination: it must gather three-fifths of the Congress and the Senate, a majority that is currently difficult to achieve because the PP's concurrence is necessary. "We will seek the greatest possible consensus," asserted the Spanish government, adding that there is a "large majority" of citizens who support the right to abortion.

The person in charge of explaining this was the Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, who explained that she considers that the "effective" exercise of the right to abortion is currently "at risk." She said this with data in hand: she assured that only 20% of abortions in Spain are performed in public healthcare, while the right is also not guaranteed in the same way throughout the territory. For example, she said that more than 50% of cases in Galicia, Cantabria, or Catalonia are performed in public healthcare, but only 1% of cases in the Community of Madrid and Andalusia are performed in the public sector. "It is an important and fundamental debate, and we will fight for it," Redondo concluded.

Regarding the timing of this reform, Redondo justified it because there is an "ultra-reactionary movement that has targeted women's rights" and because there are "attitudes," such as that of the Community of Madrid, that are contrary to guaranteeing women's rights.