Executive Powers and the Right to Abortion under Progressive Governments in Latin America: Mexico City and Brazil

Abstract

The so-called Left turn in Latin America coincided with the beginning of a series of reforms that liberalized abortion laws in different countries of the region. At the same time, in several countries under progressive governments in that period, there was no change in this field. This article argues that, in addition to strong movements and favorable parties in power, in Latin American political regimes, marked by strong presidentialism, as well as by an extensive power of governors in federal countries, it is necessary to analyze the role of executive powers, and in particular pre and post electoral contexts, as critical junctures that can generate incentives for them to advance or block reforms in this field. Likewise, State-Church relationships are also analyzed as a significant contextual factor for reforms in this area of rights. Based on empirical research, the study analyzes in particular the cases of Mexico City and Brazil. These cases are contrasting in terms of the secularization process, as well as of legislative results, and allow to point out the role of electoral incentives in the behavior of the Executives regarding abortion rights.