81% of French people are in favor of including abortion in the constitution, even far-right voters

Is France attached to its right to abortion? Definitely yes. Trial, 81% of the French are in favor of its inclusion in the Constitutionaccording to an Ifop survey, carried out for the Jean-Jaurès foundation, and revealed on July 5, 2022. 77% even think it would be “useful”.

It must be said that at the moment “History begins to move in the wrong direction”, as Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne complained on June 29, 2022, during a visit to the headquarters of Family Planning in Paris. Indeed, on June 24 the US Supreme Court buried the Roe v. Wade who guaranteed women the right to abortion for nearly half a century.

In tune with the constitutionalization of abortion

Are the French then afraid of an American scenario? According to the survey, only 31% of them believe that the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) can be questioned in our country and this, in the near future.

And, surprisingly, the consensus in French society is there for once. The various electorates would also agree on the question of the constitutionalization of abortion. This is confirmed Francois Krausdirector of the “Politics and News” section of the IFOP:

” There is a huge consensus among all strata of the population, including the most conservative ones. There is a cultural gap between French society and American society on this subject, pro-Life speeches are not printed in France. “

And the survey data does not say otherwise … 85% of Jean-Luc Mélanchon’s voters, 91% of Yannick Jadot’s or 87% of Emmanuel Macron’s they are in favor of including access to abortion in the French constitution.

Right-wing and extremist voters are also in favor of including access to abortion in the Constitution.

And apparently, again according to the survey, right and far right, we would share this idea. If the most reluctant remain the supporters of Éric Zemmour (with only 59% in favor), 77% of the voters of Valérie Pécresse and 80% of those of Marine Le Penwho nevertheless denounced a “Comfort abortion” in 2017, it would also be in favor of the constitutionalisation of abortion.

For Francois Kraus, this surprising score would be due to the age of the National Gathering voters:

” Marine Le Pen’s electorate is young and completely free of religion. It is certainly an electorate aimed at issues of identity and security but not conservative in the Anglo-Saxon sense. “

Setting abortion in stone will take time …

For the first time in a long time, would the French go beyond their political views and finally be on the verge of tuning their violins on the cause of abortion? Aurore Bergé, president of the Renaissance group, is convinced of this, at the origin of the bill on the subject presented on 22 June 2022.as he confided to France Info:

” Compared to those who say that it is necessarily an impetuous debate that will revive ancient passions and divide the French, on the contrary, it can be a debate that brings peace and unites society. Women’s rights are never taken for granted until they are set in stone. When we have the means to write in stone this right which is a fundamental freedom, then we must do it. “

However, the abortion inscription “in stone” is not for tomorrow. The legislative path will be long. The National Assembly and the Senate will have to vote in the same terms on the text before it is submitted to a referendum. This is the process when it comes to the Constitution. But the government always has the option to regain the upper hand and go through a constitutional bill. The referendum can be avoided and a 3/5 vote of the two houses of parliament will suffice. Keep on…

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