The Government continues to advance in the procedures to guarantee abortion in the Constitution. This Tuesday, the Council of Ministers has approved in second reading the constitutional reform project. However, the proposal has no prospect of succeeding, given that to carry out this change in the Magna Carta it needs the support of the PP.
In its proposal, which will now be sent to the Cortes, the Executive proposes to add a section 4 to article 43 of the Spanish Constitution, which includes the right to health protection, so that the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy is guaranteed under conditions of equality throughout the national territory with as many benefits and services as are necessary.
It seeks the strengthening of Public Healthcare, by linking it to the right to health and the public healthcare system; and it will be channeled through the ordinary procedure for constitutional reform, which requires three-fifths of each Chamber or a two-thirds majority of the Congress and an absolute majority in the Senate.
Change in wording
Should the reform promoted by the Government go ahead, the wording of article 43 would be as follows: "The right of women to the voluntary interruption of pregnancy is recognized. The exercise of this right, in any case, will be guaranteed by public authorities ensuring its provision under conditions of effective equality as well as the protection of women's fundamental rights."