A JOINT SESSION of the NATIONAL PARLIAMENT was held yesterday to consider the observations made by the EXECUTIVE BRANCH to chapters 2, 3 and 4 of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill, those chapters provided for the decriminalization of abortion under certain circumstances.

The session started at 14:30 with 29 Senators and 90 Representatives in the room, of a total of 31 Senators and 99 Representatives.

Legislators of the four political parties represented in Parliament had the floor. Then they proceeded to voting each section separately.

The result of the vote on sections 7, 8 and 19 was:

15 senators against the VETO
14 senators in favor of the VETO

46 representatives against the VETO
44 representatives in favor of the VETO

The vast majority of legislators of Frente Amplio in the room VOTED AGAINST THE VETO.
All of the legislators of the National party in the room VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE VETO.
Votes from legislators of the Colorado party were split.
The representative from the Independent party VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE VETO.

Afterwards, they proceeded to voting sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20, with the following result:

16 senators AGAINST THE VETO
12 senators IN FAVOR OF THE VETO

46 representatives AGAINST THE VETO
44 representatives IN FAVOR OF THE VETO

The vast majority of legislators of Frente Amplio in the room VOTED AGAINST THE VETO.
All of the legislators of the National party in the room VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE VETO.
Votes from legislators of the Colorado party were split.
The representative from the Independent party VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE VETO.

In spite of the fact that the decision of the Executive Branch WASN’T SUPPORTED by the majority of Parliament, the PRESIDENTIAL VETO wasn’t overturned because 3/5 of the votes of members of both houses present couldn’t be reached

THE FINAL RESULT OF THE VOTING IN THE JOINT SESSION SHOWED THE LACK OF POLITICAL WILL FROM THE ENTIRE NATIONAL PARTY AND THE INDEPENDENT PARTY TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH A DIRECT DEMOCRACY MECHANISM. INSOFAR AS IT WASN’T POSSIBLE TO OVERTURN THE VETO IN THE JOINT SESSION, AND BECAUSE THE LAW WAS ONLY PARTIALLY ENACTED, THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY FOR THE PEOPLE TO VOICE THEIR POSITION ON THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF ABORTION AND A COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW.

THE VETO OF DR. TABARÉ VAZQUEZ, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, SUPPORTED BY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH, DR. MARIA JULIA MUÑOZ, WITH THE COMPLICITY OF LEGISLATORS OF THE NATIONAL, INDEPENDENT AND COLORADO PARTIES WHO VOTED FOR THE VETO TODAY, PREVENTS URUGUAY FROM MAKING A SUSTANTIAL ADVANCE IN RECOGNIZING THE RIGHT OF WOMEN AND THEIR PARTNERS TO DECIDE ON THE INTERRUPTION OF A PREGNANCY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. IN DOING SO, THEY HAVE SENTENCED MORE THAN 30,000 WOMEN TO GO THROUGH A CLANDESTINE ABORTION EACH YEAR, EXPOSING THEMSELVES TO HEALTH AND LIFE RISKS AND A CRIMINAL SENTENCE.


HEALTH CAN’T BE VETOED, RIGHTS CAN’T BE VETOED, FREEDOM CAN’T BE VETOED