Argentina abortion bill heads to Congress vote as protests build
Source: Reuters
AMERS
DECEMBER 10, 2020 5:10 AM UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO
Argentina abortion bill heads to Congress vote as protests build
By Nicolás Misculin
3 MIN READ
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A bill to legalize abortion in Argentina, which is being pushed by center-left President Alberto Fernandez, is set to be debated in the lower house of Congress on Thursday amid widespread protests for and against the law.
The legislation, which would provide for the legal termination of pregnancy up until the 14th week, could set the tone elsewhere in predominantly Roman Catholic Latin America, with a number of countries seeing drives to give women greater reproductive rights.
The draft law is expected to be narrowly approved by congressional deputies before moving up to the Senate, where an even tighter vote is anticipated. The South American country is the birthplace of Pope Francis, and most people are nominally Catholic.
A spokesman for the ruling party told Reuters a debate of almost 30 hours was expected in the lower house, meaning that the bill - which could undergo modifications to achieve broad consensus - would be likely to face a vote on Friday morning.
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https://www.reuters.com/article/argentina-abortion/argentina-abortion-bill-heads-to-congress-vote-as-protests-build-idUSKBN28K18S