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A6 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 31 december 2020
Bill legalizing abortion passed in pope’s native Argentina

By ALMUDENA CALATRAVA The group Pro-Life Unity
and DÉBORA REY said the date would be re-
Associated Press membered “as one of the
BUENOS AIRES, Argen- most macabre days in re-
tina (AP) — Argentina cent history.”
on Wednesday became A previous abortion bill was
the largest nation in Latin voted down by Argentine
America to legalize elec- lawmakers in 2018 by a nar-
tive abortion, a triumph for row margin.
a feminist movement that But this time it was backed
overcame a last-minute by the center-left govern-
appeal by Pope Francis to ment, boosted by the so-
his compatriots and could called “piba” revolution,
pave the way for similar from the Argentine slang
actions across the socially for “girls,” and opinion polls
conservative, heavily Ro- showing opposition had
man Catholic region. softened.
After a marathon 12-hour The generational shift was
session, the country’s Sen- reflected in the stance
ate passed the law after taken by Vice President
midnight by a comfortable Fernández de Kirchner.
38-29 margin just two years As president between 2007
after a similar initiative fell and 2015, Fernández de
short in a cliffhanger vote. Abortion-rights activists hold hangers, that symbolize illegal abortions, and signs reading in Kirchner opposed legaliz-
The legislation, which Presi- Spanish “Goodbye” after lawmakers approved a bill that legalizes abortion outside Congress in ing abortion. But she says
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020.
dent Alberto Fernández Associated Press she was persuaded by her
has vowed to sign into law adult daughter to recon-
in the coming days, guar- region, where dangerous measure was passed. government, weighed in, sider her position.
antees abortion up to the clandestine procedures re- “I am the mother of a girl tweeting: “The Son of God Argentina’s feminist move-
14th week of pregnancy main the norm a half cen- and I know that she will was born an outcast, in ment has been demand-
and beyond that in cases tury after a woman’s right have more rights tomorrow order to tell us that every ing legal abortion for more
of rape or when a woman’s to choose was guaranteed and that keeps us mov- outcast is a child of God. than 30 years and activ-
health is at risk. in the U.S. ing forward,” said Renata He came into the world as ists say the bill’s approval
“Safe, legal and free abor- Outside the Senate, pro- Vismara, her voice hoarse each child comes into the could mark a watershed in
tion is now the law,” Fernán- and anti-abortion rights after the celebratory street world, weak and vulner- Latin America, where the
dez tweeted after the vote, activists gathered, with the demonstration. able, so that we can learn Catholic Church has long
noting that it had been an bill’s mostly female support- Added Valentine Luy to accept our weaknesses dominated.
election pledge. ers wearing the color green Machado: “The power of with tender love.” Supporters cite official fig-
“Today, we are a better that has characterized their seeing it come true after Following the vote, the ures claiming more than
society that expands wom- combative movement. so many years ... it’s revolu- local Roman Catholic 3,000 women have died
en’s rights and guarantees The crowd of a few thou- tionary.” bishop’s conference is- from clandestine abortions
public health,” he added. sand burst into raucous Emotions ran high ahead of sued a statement saying in the country since 1983.
While abortion is already al- cheers and tear-filled hugs the vote as well. the measure “will deepen Amnesty International cel-
lowed in some other parts as Vice President Cristina Just hours before the Sen- even further the divisions in ebrated the vote as “an in-
of Latin America — such as Fernández de Kirchner, ate session began Tuesday, our country” and said it la- spiration for other countries
in Uruguay, Cuba and Mex- who presided over the de- the pope, who is revered mented that the country’s in the region and the world
ico City — its legalization bate, announced the re- throughout his homeland leadership was distant from to advance in recognizing
in Argentina is expected sult, shouting “legal abor- and has good relations the dominant pro-life senti- access to legal and safe
to reverberate across the tion in the hospital!” as the with Fernández ‘s Peronist ment across the nation. abortion.”q

Israeli foreign minister joins exodus from centrist party

JERUSALEM (AP) — Isra- holds in the 120-member with a number of Arab
el’s foreign minister said Knesset, or parliament. states.
Wednesday he is leaving “I have decided not to The Knesset dissolved last
the Blue and White party continue in Blue and White. week after the government
and taking a “break” from I am taking a break and will failed to pass a national
politics, marking the further consider my path,” Ashke- budget for 2020. Israel now
disintegration of the cen- nazi said in a statement. heads to its fourth national
trist party that came close Defense Minister Benny election since April 2019,
to unseating Prime Minis- Gantz, another former top while facing a runaway
ter Benjamin Netanyahu general and the leader of coronavirus outbreak, a
in three hard-fought elec- Blue and White, said he re- devastating economic cri-
tions. spected Ashkenazi’s deci- sis and a prime minister on
Gabi Ashkenazi, a former sion. He said that as foreign trial for corruption.
military chief of staff, is join- minister Ashkenazi had Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai
In this Oct. 27, 2020 file photo, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi
Ashkenazi speaks during a join news conference with his Greek ing an exodus from Blue played a key role in halting announced Tuesday he
counterpart Nikos Dendias,and Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos and White ahead of March Israel’s plans to annex parts was forming a new faction
Christodoulides after a meeting between the foreign Ministers of elections in which the party of the West Bank and in that already appears on
Greece , Israel and Cyprus in Athens. is expected to lose most normalization agreements track to eclipse Blue and
Associated Press of the 17 seats it currently reached in recent months White.q