Spain Plans Constitutional Abortion Right Amid Political Debate

Spain's leftist government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has proposed a constitutional reform to enshrine the right to abortion, aiming to protect women's reproductive freedoms against political challenges and ensure long-term legal certainty. This initiative follows a controversial Madrid city council decision, supported by the conservative Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox, to require health centers to provide information about "post-abortion syndrome," a condition lacking scientific consensus. Sanchez criticized the PP for aligning with the far right and vowed no rollback on social rights, emphasizing that abortion-related information must be based on objective scientific evidence from reputable organizations like the World Health Organization. The constitutional change requires a three-fifths majority in parliament, necessitating some opposition support. The government views this move as essential to guarantee women's autonomy, gender equality, and protection of reproductive healthcare as fundamental rights, positioning Spain alongside countries like France that have already enshrined abortion rights constitutionally. The debate highlights broader tensions between progressive reforms and conservative opposition in Spain and reflects global discussions on reproductive rights.