The historic vote at the Palace of Versailles was largely a formality. Both houses of parliament – the National Assembly and the Senate – had gathered for the vote. The proposal passed by a large margin and when the result was read out, it was met with applause in the hall.
Previously, both the National Assembly and the Senate had voted yes to the proposal separately.
Before the vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal gave a speech in which he urged everyone to vote yes.
– The fight for equality cannot and must not become a war of the sexes. It is a fight for our whole society, a universal fight, he said, reminding that “oppression can return”.
– Let’s act today so that it doesn’t happen, that it never comes back.
Strong support among the French
President Emmanuel Macron has previously praised the constitutional amendment, as have the French people. In opinion polls, over 80 percent of the population has supported the proposal.
On X, previously Twitter, Macron writes that the decision shows “French pride, universal message” and that he will sign the law on March 8, International Women’s Day, and that everyone who wants to see him do it then should meet at the Place Vendome in central Paris where a ceremony is to be held.
France decriminalized abortion in 1975. Since then, several changes to the law have been made to improve conditions.