France legalized abortion back in 1975. Since then, the protection of unborn life has been increasingly restricted. Up to the 14th week of pregnancy, abortions can now be performed, the costs of which are fully covered by the state health insurance.
The right to abortion is therefore not threatened in France. All the major parties, including the Rassemblement National, are sticking to it. Nevertheless, President Emmanuel Macron wants to anchor it in the constitution soon.
He could use the applause from feminist organizations. His government is pilloried as misogynistic, because for the savings of the pension reform, mostly mothers with broken careers are asked to pay.
The president, however, is primarily concerned with positioning France as an antithesis to the United States. In interviews, he regularly raises doubts about the community of values with America. "Our values are not quite the same," he said recently.
This was also to be understood as a reaction to the Supreme Court's decision on abortion law. The constitutional amendment is intended to codify how differently France defines women's rights.
Macron is pursuing a pan-European plan with his initiative. The aim is to include the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Among other things, he is challenging the Federal Constitutional Court, which has so far not recognized any right to abortion.