Abortion decriminalization bill clears key hurdle in Argentine Senate [View all]

The Argentine Senate approved the referral of a bill legalizing abortion on demand to three committees: Health, Justice, and Constitutional Affairs.

The referral dealt a significant procedural defeat to opponents of the bill, who sought to have it debated by a fourth committee (Budget) whose chairman, Senator Esteban Bullrich, is a staunch opponent of abortion rights.

The bill, passed by the Lower House on June 14, would legalize abortion on a woman's sole prerogative up to the 14th week, and with physician approval past that point.

The legislation was sparked heated debate in the largely Catholic nation of 44 million. No abortion rights bill had ever passed either house of Congress, despite seven previous efforts since 1983.

Asleep at the switch

President Mauricio Macri's right-wing PRO and their junior coalition partners, the centrist UCR, largely oppose the measure - though Macri himself has hinted that, despite his longstanding opposition, he'd sign it if passed by the Senate.

Critics charge, however, that the president is refusing to work towards passage of the bill, noting that during the marathon debate session on June 13-14, Macri had been asleep rather than on the phone with legislators.

"When the bill legalizing divorce was debated (in 1987) President Raúl Alfonsín didn't go to sleep," Congressman Axel Kicillof noted. "And when marriage equality was debated (in 2010), President Cristina Kirchner and Néstor (her late husband, then a congressman) didn't go to sleep."

The bill still faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where 27 senators are in favor, 27 are opposed, and 18 have not yet indicated how they'd vote.

Vice President Gabriela Michetti, who led efforts to steer the bill to Bullrich's Budget Committee, is also opposed moreover, and would cast the tie-breaking vote.

Up to 400,000 abortions are performed annually in Argentina despite current law, which since 1921 allows only for cases of rape, incest, or to save the mother's life. In Latin America only Cuba and Uruguay guarantee abortion rights.

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