Spain's Government Proposes Constitutional Recognition of Abortion Rights Amidst Political Opposition
Spain's government proposes to enshrine abortion rights in the Constitution, drawing stark political opposition from PP and Vox, contrasting with France’s broad support for similar constitutional recognition.
- • Spanish government proposes constitutional recognition of abortion rights, following France's example.
- • France’s measure had 84% public support and overwhelming parliamentary backing, including from the extreme right.
- • Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo supports abortion access but opposes constitutional change.
- • Vox accuses the government of using the proposal to divert attention from corruption and promotes unscientific claims.
- • The debate highlights divisions in Spanish politics over reproductive rights and government policies.
Key details
The Spanish government has introduced a landmark proposal to enshrine the right to abortion in the national Constitution, a move that would mark a significant shift in Spain’s legal landscape. This initiative, aiming to guarantee abortion rights at the constitutional level, is unprecedented in Spain and mirrors a similar measure recently adopted in France, where 84% of the population supported this inclusion and it garnered overwhelming parliamentary approval. In France, the vote passed with 780 out of 925 parliamentarians in favor, including from unusual allies like extreme right leader Marine Le Pen who affirmed her support for abortion as a right.
In Spain, however, the proposal faces significant opposition mainly from the Popular Party (PP) and Vox. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the PP, acknowledged his support for abortion access but questioned the need to elevate abortion rights to constitutional status, arguing they are sufficiently protected under existing legislation. Vox’s Secretary General, Ignacio Garriga, criticized the government’s move as a diversion from corruption scandals, while also promoting controversial claims such as the notion of a "post-abortion syndrome," which lack scientific backing.
Comparatively, France has led in abortion legislation by decriminalizing the practice in 1975, while Spain only granted full abortion rights in 2010 after initially allowing limited circumstances since 1985. France is currently evaluating compensatory measures for women penalized before abortion legalization.
The political debate surrounding the constitutionalization of abortion rights in Spain reflects deeper ideological divides. Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s Prime Minister, has been active in reinforcing left-wing principles and rejecting compromises with extreme right ideologies, emphasizing a clear stance against narratives promoted by parties like Vox. Meanwhile, Feijóo has criticized the current government’s fiscal policies amidst widespread economic difficulties faced by citizens.
As the debate continues, the government’s proposal represents a pivotal moment in Spain’s approach to reproductive rights, with significant legal, political, and social implications. The controversy underscores contrasting visions of social policy and justice within Spanish politics in 2025.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.