Arizona's abortion ban brings reproductive rights back into the presidential campaign

2024-04-12 17:32:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Arizona's abortion ban brings reproductive rights back into the

Reproductive rights have again been placed at the center of the presidential campaign in the United States, as Republican candidate Donald Trump distanced himself from the Arizona Supreme Court decision that banned almost all abortions in the state. As Voice of America correspondent Scott Stearns reports, President Biden's campaign team says Mr. Trump is responsible for losing the right to abortion.

This week Donald Trump announced his approach on restrictions on abortion rights, but avoided a clear position on a proposal to ban abortion at the national level, which is supported by prominent members of his own party.

"The states will be the ones to decide through a vote or legislation or maybe both. The decision of the states should be the final law", said Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for President.

A day after this statement, the Supreme Court of Arziona decided to ban almost all abortions, demanding the implementation of a law from 1864, which does not allow abortion even in cases of rape or incest.

Former President Trump said this decision goes too far.

"As you know, it is the right of each state to decide (on abortion). This issue will be fixed and I'm sure that the governor and everyone else will bring it back within reasonable limits, I believe it's an issue that will be dealt with fairly quickly," he said.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, moved quickly to block state prosecutors from investigating women who have abortions and the doctors who help them.

"I refuse to let the extremist prosecutors of this state use this ban on abortion rights to imprison women who seek medical care and the doctors who provide it. My administration has expanded access to contraceptives at the state level," said Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs.

In Florida, the state's Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the law banning abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, which takes effect next month.

Former President Trump is trying to reassure voters that states can reverse such decisions that do not enjoy the support of public opinion, reminding them that he was the one who ended the constitutional protection of the right to abortion.

"We succeeded. It was something extraordinary, an incredible achievement. We achieved it and now the decision belongs to the states, which will decide as they want. It is the will of the people. So Florida will likely change the law. Arizona no doubt did. Everyone wanted this and now everything is in the will of the citizens. It's been really nice," Mr. Trump said.

In a statement, President Joe Biden's campaign team said: "Donald Trump is to blame for the suffering and chaos going on right now, including in Arizona, because he proudly overturned 'federal protections for abortion rights.'

Arizona is an important state in this presidential election, where supporters of abortion rights announced last week that they have collected enough signatures to vote on a law to make abortion a constitutional right in the state in November. .

Arizona Democratic lawmaker Greg Stanton believes his state and the nation are at an inflection point regarding abortion rights.

"This November, in Arizona, safe and legal access to abortion will be on the ballot, and people will not stand idly by. They will run to the polls and turn out en masse to elect candidates who truly, consistently and sincerely support abortion rights".

In similar elections held in the states of Ohio and Kansas, in the last two years, Republicans have faced defeat./ VOA