The right to abortion, a key issue in the US presidential race

2024-04-07 19:53:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Florida Supreme Court's recent decision paved the way for tougher restrictions on abortion rights. As VOA correspondent Scott Stearns reports, abortion rights are an important issue in this year's presidential election. In November, voters can choose whether they want to undo these restrictions or not.

This week the Florida Supreme Court allowed a ban on abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy to go into effect in May.

The decision makes the abortion issue even more important on the November ballot in Florida, when voters can choose whether to enshrine broader abortion rights in the US constitution.

This further politicizes the issue of abortion rights in Florida and this year's presidential race.

Federal protections for abortion were overturned after nearly 50 years in 2022 by the United States Supreme Court, three of whose justices were appointed by former President Donald Trump.

In the campaign for this year's elections, the Republican presidential candidate was proud of overturning the "Roe v. Wade" decision.

"I got it. All the other candidates are ridiculous. I think I'm very pro-life. One guy stood up and said, 'This man ended Roe v. Wade. How can you be against him? I say it myself, actually.' I am proud to be the most pro-life president in American history," Trump said at a rally on June 25, 2023.

But since the high court's decision two years ago, abortion has been a losing political issue for Republicans in Ohio and Kansas.

Reproductive rights are a central part of President Joe Biden's re-election campaign.

"Trump proudly says that after 50 years he succeeded in overturning Roe v. Wade. That's his statement. You've seen it in the media . When Donald Trump talks about overturning Roe v. Wade, he's actually saying that women should be punished when they exercise their reproductive freedom. Trump and MAGA supporters are responsible for the ensuing chaos and are now calling for a nationwide ban on the right, in every state, beyond what the law now provides," Mr. Biden said.

In this campaign, former President Trump has not stated whether he supports a national ban on abortion. He was asked this week about the Florida decision.

Reporter: Mr. President, do you support the six-week abortion ban upheld by the Florida Supreme Court?

Trump: Next week we will come out with a statement on abortion.

The issue of reproductive rights in these presidential elections will also have an impact, a future decision of the Supreme Court, which will determine the imposition of additional restrictions on access to the most used medicine for abortion./ VOA