Reprehensible stuff from one of the world's oldest republics:
France has become the first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution.
Parliamentarians voted to revise the country's 1958 constitution to enshrine women's "guaranteed freedom" to abort.
The overwhelming 780-72 vote saw a standing ovation in the parliament in Versailles when the result was announced.
"A standing ovation."
The country has already guaranteed abortion statutorily for decades. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, however, had claimed the right to abortion was "in danger" and "at the mercy of decision makers."
The constitutional move was opposed by pro-life leaders and religious authorities including the Vatican.
The repeal of Roe v. Wade in the U.S. apparently played a role in the development:
"This right (to abortion) has retreated in the United States. And so nothing authorised us to think that France was exempt from this risk," said Laura Slimani, from the Fondation des Femmes rights group.
Data show well over 200,000 abortions in the country per year. Like many countries, France's fertility rate is below replacement and shrinking, meaning the country is growing smaller every year.
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