Argentine Senate rejects historic abortion law
Source: Washington Post
Argentina’s Senate has rejected a bill to legalize elective abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
The issue has divided the homeland of Pope Francis. Lawmakers debated for more than 15 hours and voted Thursday 31 in favor to 38 against.
Crowds of supporters and opponents of the measure braved the heavy rain to watch the debate on large screens set up outside Congress.
The lower house of Congress had already passed the measure and President Mauricio Macri had said that he would sign it.
Argentina now allows the procedure only in cases of rape or risks to a woman’s health.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/argentine-senate-debates-measure-to-legalize-abortion/2018/08/08/487dd6e2-9b6e-11e8-a8d8-9b4c13286d6b_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.d9472dc5058a
Senators gather for a marathon session over a bill legalizing abortion on demand up to the 14th week.
The bill, voted down at 2:30 this morning, was the eighth try for pro-choice advocates in Argentina since 1983.
Macri's right-wing "Let's Change" coalition voted largely against it, and opposition parties were unable to find unity.
Supporters vowed to bring the measure again after the 2019 elections, which Macri is expected to lose.
