French lawmakers approve bill enshrining abortion rights in the constitution

French lawmakers voted on Thursday to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution, with MPs on the left and center saying the US Supreme Court's overturning of a landmark ruling in June showed the need for new steps.

The vote in the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, marks only the first step on the path to enshrining the right to abortion in the constitution.

In order to change the constitution, a bill must be voted on in the same terms by the lower house and the Senate.

The latter is controlled by France's wingnuts and last month rejected a cross-party bill aimed at constitutionalizing the right to abortion and contraception.

French lawmakers approve bill enshrining abortion rights in the constitution