Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on 24 October 2026 in Granada that he would enshrine the right to abortion in the Constitution. At an appearance at the PSOE in the Palacio de Congresos he linked the pledge to a cultural ideal: he championed the “España de Lorca”, an open, pluralistic society conscious of its history, named after Federico García Lorca. By way of contrast, he portrayed the programmes of the right-wing opposition as the “Tijeras” of Alberto Núñez Feijóo and the “Motosierra” of Santiago Abascal.
At the start of his speech, Sánchez read passages from Lorca’s work and referred to a message from the Hispanist Ian Gibson, who had encouraged him to bring the Granada-born poet into the spotlight. In his speech, he said verbatim that “no man will ever again decide over or control a woman’s body”. He justified the plan to protect abortion rights in the Constitution as a means of safeguarding individual freedoms against political rollbacks.
The announcement comes during an election campaign in which the PSOE accuses the right-wing opposition of reversing social rights. Feijóo and Abascal regularly reject such accusations and prioritise spending limits and the transfer of powers. Sánchez presented no specific draft legislation in Granada; he described the constitutional amendment as a political goal should his party retain responsibility for government.
Amending the Spanish Constitution requires qualified majorities in Congress and the Senate. Depending on the articles concerned, a three-fifths majority is required; if agreement cannot be reached, a referendum may be necessary. This makes clear that implementation depends on broad parliamentary support and extends beyond an election promise.
Alongside Sánchez, regional party officials appeared in Granada, including María Jesús Montero, who is from Andalusia. The event combined cultural symbolism with social policy pledges: the appeal to Lorca was intended to offer an inclusive national narrative, while the pledge on abortion rights aimed to provide legal certainty for reproductive rights. The organisers gave no verified figures for attendance in this context. No timetable was set for further steps towards constitutional amendment.
The appearance in Granada thus underscores two strands of the socialist campaign: a values-based understanding of culture, linked to the name of the Andalusian poet, and legal protection for social and civil freedoms against the cuts Sánchez attributes to his political opponents.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).