Violaine de Filippis wanted to hear the result of the vote from the Place du Trocadéro in Paris, and feel the effervescence of the moment. On Monday, March 4, the air was spring-like and the lawyer and spokeswoman for the organization Dare Feminism exulted as the voice of Assemblée Nationale President Yaël Braun-Pivet boomed from the loudspeakers beneath a giant screen: The joint session of Parliament in Versailles had adopted the bill amending the Constitution to protect the "guaranteed freedom" to abortion, with 780 votes, far above the 512 required. "Historic," summed up the activist, accompanying the cheers from the crowd. "It's a feminist victory!" she said.
On the square, placards bore references to the Women's Liberation Movement, whose French branch was founded in 1970, at a time when abortion was criminalized. A glittering Eiffel Tower lit up with the slogan "My body my choice." The "historic" constitutional revision "will be a positive element in Emmanuel Macron's record," said Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette, president of the High Council for Women's Equality, in Versailles. "The head of state has played his part. Thank you to Emmanuel Macron for making this victory possible," added Anne-Cécile Mailfert, president of the Women's Foundation, still moved from singing "L'Hymne des femmes" ("Women's anthem") at the joint session of Parliament.
For a long time, Macron kept away from the project's legislative progress, fearing that a failure would be a sign of his inability to pass new reforms, with his coalition having no majority in Parliament. But as soon as the vote was won, the president announced a ceremony would be held on March 8, International Women's Rights Day. He is looking to take some credit for what was a parliamentary initiative. "French pride, universal message. Let's celebrate together the entry of a new freedom guaranteed in the Constitution by the first sealing ceremony in our history open to the public," he promised. As is custom, the justice minister, who is also known by the title of "keeper of Seals," will apply a wax seal to make official the constitutional law of March 8, 2024. Representatives of feminist associations will be invited to what should be a great popular celebration.
It was the perfect opportunity for Macron to promote his feminist credentials. "Emmanuel Macron is fighting to ensure that people are not confined to their condition or gender," said a spokesperson for the Elysée Palace. The presidency was quick to seize the opportunity to describe Macron's tenure as "feminist" by citing the policies he implemented, such as the distribution of emergency phones to fight against domestic violence, the national strategy against endometriosis and the expansion of medically-assisted procreation to all women. "We have often misused the term 'historic,' but today it is fully justified," applauded Aurore Bergé, the minister for equality between men and women, who popped champagne in her office on Monday evening with feminist activists.
You have 36.17% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.