Spain's Equality Minister Ana Redondo appeared in Congress to defend a constitutional reform protecting abortion as a fundamental right, citing the need to prevent setbacks amid global regression. She faced opposition from the PP, which dismissed it as a smokescreen, and Vox, which labeled it the sacrifice of innocents. The proposal follows recent controversies involving PP leaders like Ayuso and Almeida.
Ana Redondo, Spain's Equality Minister, defended on Monday in the Congress of Deputies a reform to the Constitution's Article 43 to include voluntary termination of pregnancy as a protected right. She argued it is essential amid the 'ultra wave' threatening women's rights advances in Europe and the world. "This debate is necessary because voluntary termination of pregnancy is not guaranteed throughout the territory," she stated, highlighting disparities in public health access across Autonomous Communities.
Redondo stressed historical responsibility: "This debate is necessary due to the regression we see globally and in our society, our democracy. And that is radically dangerous. We are aware of our historical responsibility so that future generations continue advancing in rights and not regressing".
The PP, essential for the reform, refused to participate. Its deputy Isabel Rodríguez called it a "smokescreen": "Voluntary termination of pregnancy is already protected by law. We will not participate in your fear campaign, making women believe we are going back to the 1950s, because these are overcome issues and moral banners to divide society and cover up your corrupt government".
Vox was harsher. Reyes Romero accused the government of promoting a "culture of death": "The only thing they do is defend the culture of death, with abortion and euthanasia. It would cause serious damage to Spanish society. It is a suicidal measure". She added that enshrining abortion would mean "sacrifice of innocents," denying the fetus is merely cells and rejecting vicarious violence.
In response, Redondo urged the PP not to whitewash Vox's denialism, which she called a "destroyer of democracy," warning of the risk of social regression.
The government's initiative follows recent controversies, such as José Luis Martínez-Almeida's defense of a Vox-proposed alert on a supposed post-abortion syndrome, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso's suggestion that women abort elsewhere after failing to comply with the law on conscientious objectors.