A heated debate has reignited in the Spanish capital over the topics of abortion and the freedom of conscience for medical professionals. President of the Madrid region Isabel Díaz Ayuso has sharply criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who recently proposed enshrining the right to abortion in the country’s Constitution. Ayuso has openly expressed her outrage that, in her view, the prime minister is trying to speak on behalf of all women and impose his own perspective.
According to the regional leader, she has personally experienced painful losses related to pregnancy and believes that no one has the right to tell her or other women how to approach such complex issues. Ayuso emphasized that freedom of choice must be guaranteed not only for patients but also for doctors who, due to their personal beliefs, do not wish to participate in such procedures. She insists that the anonymity and respect for the personal views of medical professionals should remain protected by law.
Meanwhile, the prime minister continues to advocate for the creation of a special registry for doctors who refuse to perform abortions on conscientious grounds and demands that the Madrid authorities fully comply with existing legislation. Sánchez has also called on the opposition to put pressure on the regional government to ensure it meets all legal requirements.
Ayuso, in turn, insists that no one in Madrid is persecuted for their beliefs, and that the regional government acts strictly within the law. She expressed concerns that such initiatives could lead to a return to times when women and doctors had decisions imposed upon them. In her view, society should strive to reduce the number of abortions, not increase them, and support positive measures in the sphere of motherhood and childhood.
The question of freedom of conscience for medical professionals and women’s right to abortion is once again at the center of public attention. Debates continue in Madrid over how to strike a balance between personal convictions and citizens’ rights, and what role the authorities should play on such sensitive issues.
