TEHRAN, June 15 - Argentine lawmakers Thursday backed a bill legalizing abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, a historic step for Pope Francis's Catholic homeland, although the measure must still pass through the Senate.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Thousands of abortion rights activists cheered and hugged outside the Congress as the lower house Chamber of Deputies passed the bill by 129 votes to 125.
The bill will now go before the Senate, where it was thought likely to face an uphill battle to become law.
However, in the hours following Thursday's vote, former president and now senator Cristina Kirchner's center-left Front for Victory bloc removed a major obstacle to the bill by saying it would vote in favor.
The issue has divided Argentine society: while Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010, it remains strongly influenced by the Catholic Church and by the pope, who was formerly the archbishop of Buenos Aires.
"It's the time of women's rights," said Silvia Lospennato, a member of President Mauricio Macri's center-right Cambiemos (Let's Change) coalition.
Argentina's bishops lamented the result, saying: "As Argentines, this decision hurts us."
President Mauricio Macri, who made it clear from the outset that he was "in favor of life," described the debate as "historic" and said it showed "we have been able to resolve our differences with respect."
Lawmakers wrangled through more than 22 hours of emotionally charged debate. Nearly all 257 members spoke before the vote was taken, as activists on both sides of the divide kept vigil in the streets outside.
It was unclear up to the last minute if the measure would be approved or defeated. As many as 30 lawmakers were undecided before the debate began on Wednesday, and one lawmaker abstained from voting.
When the result was announced, legislators who voted in favor leapt to their feet and hugged their neighbors, while opponents slumped in their seats.
"A woman is not entitled to an abortion, she has the right to health. The unborn child is biologically and scientifically a human being," said Sebastian Bragagnolo, from the governing Cambiemos coalition who opposed the measure.
In the streets outside the Congress abortion rights activists wildly cheered and danced, while many anti-abortion demonstrators hugged each other and wept.
"The mobilization has been decisive and what happens in the Senate will depend a lot on continuing to mobilize public support," Teresa Giani, 48, told AFP.
Source: AFP
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