Meloni Triumphs Over Macron as Abortion is Omitted from G7 Communiqué

26.06.2024

In a significant diplomatic victory, Italy Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, successfully ensured that the final declaration of the G7 summit excluded any reference to abortion. This marks a departure from the previous year's summit in Hiroshima, where the communique affirmed a commitment to promote abortion.

Ahead of the summit, French and Canadian representatives had advocated for language affirming the importance of access to abortion. However, the final communiqué only emphasised the importance of "adequate, affordable, and quality health services" related to sexual and reproductive health, without mentioning abortion.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who is a firm advocate of abortion, supporting a very liberal regime expressed disappointment, emphasising that the right to abortion is a constitutional guarantee in France. He lamented the absence of this commitment in the G7 declaration, highlighting differing views on gender equality across political spectrums.

Meloni, defending her stance, argued against politicising the G7 forum on such contentious issues, particularly during challenging times. Her position was possibly bolstered by the presence of Pope Francis, who attended the summit to discuss the risks of artificial intelligence.

Italy’s Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, questioned the appropriateness of including abortion references in a G7 summit.