Government proposes enshrining abortion rights in the Constitution
The Executive will legally block the spread of false or misleading information that could coerce women.
The Spanish government plans to propose a constitutional reform that enshrines the right to abortion in the Constitution, aiming to “guarantee women’s freedom and autonomy,” according to sources within the Executive.
The announcement follows the Madrid City Council’s plenary approval—supported by the PP and Vox—of a Santiago ascal party initiative that would provide women seeking to terminate their pregnancies with information about “post‑abortion trauma.” In response, the government said on Friday that it will prevent women who want to end a pregnancy from “receiving false or unscientific information” and will push forward the constitutional amendment.
“In a global context of an offensive against sexual and reproductive rights, Spain takes another step to enshrine women’s freedom and autonomy to decide over their lives,” the sources added.
To achieve this, the Executive will launch an ordinary constitutional reform procedure, which requires a qualified parliamentary majority for approval.
Government’s Public Statements
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez posted on X:
“The PP has decided to merge with the far‑right. Let them do it. They can, but not at the expense of women’s freedoms and rights.”
“With this Government, in social rights, not a step back.”The government also announced that it will prevent the dissemination of false or misleading information that could coerce women who wish to terminate their pregnancies, starting with an amendment to Royal Decree 825/2010.
A parliamentary proposal will be presented to constitutionalize the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy, aligning with the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court.
Legal Background
The Constitutional Court has already recognized voluntary interruption of pregnancy (IVE) as an essential right for women in its sentence 44/2023 of 9 May.
If the reform passes, Spain would become the second country worldwide to embed the right to abortion its Constitution, after France did so in 2024.
“The Government thus combats any future attempts to roll back women’s rights,” officials said.