Ana Obregón, a Spanish television actress, has drawn criticism for revealing that at the age of 68, she gave birth to a girl in the US using a surrogate.
Obregón is best recognized for his roles as the lead in several Spanish sitcoms.
She had previously discussed her struggles to move on with her life after her son, who was also her only child, died of cancer in 2020 at the age of 27.
All forms of surrogacy are prohibited in Spain, but parents who return to the country can adopt the child.
In surrogacy, a woman consents to carry and give birth to a child on behalf of another person. It frequently, but not always, takes place in exchange for payment.
Obregón was featured on the cover of “Hola!” after losing both of her parents following the passing of her son. magazine earlier this week while holding a newborn infant outside of a hospital in Miami.
She later addressed the magazine cover in an Instagram post, writing:
I will never be alone again because a light filled with love entered my darkness. I AM ALIVE AGAIN.
Her comments sparked discussion on Spanish social media, and the left-wing ministers in Spain’s government were outraged by the action.
The image of Obregón leaving the hospital was dubbed “Dantesque” by education minister Pilar Alegra in reference to the Italian author’s descent into hell.
Irene Montero, the minister for equality, called the action “a form of violence against women” and said there was a “clear poverty bias” against women who became surrogate mothers because they needed the cash.
“This is not surrogacy, this is renting a womb,” Ms. Alegra added. “As we all know, this is an illegal practice in Spain.”
Presidency Minister Felix Bolaos declared that “women’s bodies should neither be bought nor rented to satisfy anyone’s desires.”
Cuca Gamarra, the conservative People’s Party’s second-ranking member, was more circumspect, stating that the topic required “deep and serene debates because it touches on many moral, ethical, and religious questions.”
Women’s rights have been a major focus of the coalition government in Spain, which is led by the Socialist party and has been in power for almost five years.
Earlier this year, it imposed tighter restrictions on surrogacy, banning advertisement for surrogacy agencies.
Surrogacy is classified as a form of violence against women, along with any “reproductive exploitation,” forced conception and delivery, forced sterilization, and forced contraception.
