Spain’s left-wing government on Friday announced plans to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right, following uproar over a controversial move by Madrid’s city hall to promote the idea of a so-called “post-abortion syndrome.”
The dispute began Tuesday when Madrid’s conservative-led council approved a far-right proposal requiring health services to inform women seeking abortions about the alleged syndrome. The measure claimed abortion could trigger drug and alcohol abuse, suicidal thoughts, and even raise cancer risks—assertions widely dismissed by medical experts.
The Popular Party (PP), which governs Madrid, initially defended the plan, but Mayor Jose Luis Almeida later admitted the syndrome is not a recognised medical condition and said providing such information would not be mandatory.
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Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sharply criticised the PP, accusing the conservatives of “merging with the far right.” He announced that his Socialist-led government would present legislation to parliament to guarantee abortion rights in the constitution.
Changing the constitution in Spain is a steep challenge, requiring a three-fifths majority in parliament—meaning Sánchez would need support from conservative lawmakers.
Spain first decriminalised abortion in 1985 under limited circumstances, including rape, fetal malformation, or risks to the mother’s health. In 2010, the law was expanded to permit abortion on request during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
Despite these legal protections, many women still face hurdles in accessing services, as large numbers of doctors in public hospitals refuse to perform the procedure.
The move comes as abortion rights remain a polarising issue in Europe. France last year became the first country in the world to explicitly add abortion rights to its constitution, a step Sánchez now wants Spain to follow.
