BLOCKED

Argentina’s Lawmakers Vote Down Bill to Legalize Abortion

Would have allowed elective abortion in first 14 weeks of pregnancy.

Argentinian lawmakers have rejected a bill to legalize elective abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, despite opinion polls showing the bill had overwhelming support from the public. After a grueling 15 hours of debate, senators voted 31 in favor to 38 against. Abortion-rights activists say pressure from the Catholic Church prevented senators from backing the bill; Argentina is the homeland of Pope Francis. Argentina’s lower house had already passed the measure and President Mauricio Macri had said he would sign it, but rejection from the upper house means abortion remains legal only in the case of rape and danger to the life of the woman. Mariela Belski, Argentina’s Amnesty International director, said: “A survey we did this year showed 60 percent support for an abortion law.” Despite the final result of the vote, many women said they believed Argentina would have legal abortion eventually. “I’m still optimistic. It didn’t pass today, but it will pass tomorrow, it will pass the next day,” supporter Natalia Carol, 23, told The Guardian. “This is not over.”