The battle over abortion rages in the United States. This Tuesday, Joe Biden described as “scandalous” a decision of the Florida Supreme Court which authorizes the entry into force of a law prohibiting abortion beyond six weeks of pregnancy in this state. The tenant of the White House, on the same day, called on Florida voters to “make their voices heard” in November during the presidential election.
Describing Monday’s decision as “extreme” and “scandalous,” the US president said in a statement that such restrictions put “the health and lives of millions of women at risk” by making medical care “out of reach.” that they desperately need.”
See you in November
The Democrat, who made the defense of abortion a major axis of his campaign for a second term, assured that he stood “alongside the vast majority of Americans, who support the right of women to choose, including in Florida, where voters will have the opportunity to make their voices heard in November.”
The supreme court of this southeastern state made two separate decisions, one having the effect of very strictly limiting the use of voluntary termination of pregnancy, the other returning the final decision to the voters. On the one hand, she rejected the suspension of a law promulgated in April 2023 by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, prohibiting abortion beyond six weeks of pregnancy. This text will therefore come into force in 30 days.
The highest court of the State has also validated the inclusion on the ballot papers in the American elections in November of an amendment guaranteeing the right to abortion. It is customary in the United States for voters to vote simultaneously in presidential elections, legislative elections and on many local issues.
If passed by at least 60% of the vote, this amendment will be added to the Florida Constitution’s Bill of Rights. It prohibits “the adoption of any law prohibiting, criminalizing, delaying or restricting abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the health of the patient”, with fetal viability generally estimated around 24 weeks.