COPENHAGEN (VG) If the US Supreme Court overturns the abortion ruling from 1973, it will be a big step back for American women and their rights, according to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor).
Less than 30 minutes ago
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“It will be a historic event, not only in the United States but far beyond, if this abortion order from 1973 is revoked,” the prime minister told VG.
He is in Copenhagen to meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Nordic colleagues on Wednesday. He will also have his first own meeting with the Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
Støre has been in the Kristiansand area earlier Tuesday. But he has the register the leak from the Supreme Court in the United States, as according to the website Politico shall reveal that a majority in the Supreme Court will set aside the right to self-determined abortion.
This right has been in force in the United States since the case Roe vs. Wade in 1973, which states that women have the right to self-determined abortion until the fetus is viable.
The US Supreme Court has confirmed that the leaked draft is genuine, but they denies that this is a final decision or that it represents the final position of any of the judges.
Can go that way
– That ruling has been important, both legally and symbolically, in many countries far beyond the United States, says the Prime Minister.
– Are you surprised?
– It has been suggested that it could go that way, with the attitudes of the new judges in the Supreme Court, those that former President Donald Trump was appointed.
– How will you react if the Roe vs Wade ruling now falls?
– If this were to be the result, then I would think that it is a big step backwards for a fundamental right that American women have had for many years. It could lead to great divisions in the United States, and it would lead to great variations in abortion laws between states. Some will almost ban abortion, with the consequences it will have for women in the US, says Støre.
– How can this happen in the US?
– In all opinion polls, there is a very solid majority for current legislation at the federal level. So what the Supreme Court may do here will clearly be contrary to the majority. But many states have worked systematically to prepare for the decision that is now coming. There are states that have decisions ready if the US Supreme Court gives them yes. SO this can happen quite quickly, says Støre.
He explains:
– In American politics, the abortion issue is charged with very many and strong contradictions between different camps. This is a major ethical issue, but in most democracies, stable legislation for women’s rights has been ensured. In the US, this is both a value marker between very polarized groups, and a societal issue, and that made the abortion case even more sensitive, he says.
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