Legislators in the lower house of the French parliament today adopted a resolution to include the right to abortion in the country's constitution, BTA reports.

This is the first step in the long and uncertain legislative battle sparked by the repeal of abortion rights in the US.  

The measure was approved by 337 votes "for" and 32 votes "against" in the 577-member National Assembly.

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In order to be approved, each measure must first be approved by a majority in the National Assembly and the upper house of parliament - the Senate, and then in a nationwide referendum.

Proponents of the proposal say it aims to "protect and guarantee the fundamental right to voluntary termination of pregnancy and contraception by enshrining it in the Constitution".

Abortion procedures were decriminalized in France in a key law in 1975, but there is nothing in the constitution to guarantee the right to an abortion.

"Our intention is clear: we do not want to leave any opportunity to people who oppose the right to abortion and contraception," said Mathilde Pano, chairwoman of the far-left France Rebellious party group in the National Assembly and co-sponsor of the proposal.

Justice Minister Eric Dupont-Moretti said the centrist government supports the initiative.

A recent poll showed that over 80 percent of the French population supports the right to abortion.

The results are consistent with those of previous studies.

According to the same poll, among the French there is a solid majority in favor of including the right to abortion in the constitution.

France

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