Spain’s government has unveiled plans to make abortion a constitutional right, nearly 40 years after the procedure was first decriminalized in the country. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the initiative was a response to what he described as a global assault on reproductive freedoms.
If approved, Spain would become the second country in the world to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution, following France, which did so in 2024.
“Under this government, there will be no rollback of social rights,” Sánchez posted on the social platform X.
Political hurdles ahead
The proposed reform requires the backing of three-fifths of Spain’s lower house, meaning support from opposition lawmakers in the conservative People’s Party (PP) will be essential.
Sánchez’s Socialist-led coalition, which also includes far-left partners, has doubled down on progressive and feminist policies amid rising support in polls for the far-right party Vox, Reuters reported.
Tackling disinformation
The government also intends to amend existing abortion laws to prevent women from being misled by false or coercive information. The new rules would oblige medical authorities to provide only scientifically verified details, aligned with standards set by organizations such as the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association.
The move follows a controversial decision by Madrid’s city council earlier this week, which, with votes from PP and Vox, passed a measure requiring health services to inform women about so-called “post-abortion syndrome.” The condition, promoted by Vox, links abortion to substance abuse, suicidal tendencies, or cancer in the female reproductive system — claims that have no scientific basis.
Protecting reproductive freedoms
“The PP has chosen to merge with the far-right. That is their choice. But it cannot come at the expense of women’s freedoms and rights,” Sánchez said in his post.
Supporters of reproductive rights argue that global efforts to curb access have intensified since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, eliminating constitutional protections for abortion in the United States.
