Polish parliament backs relaxation of Europe’s strictest abortion laws

Polish parliamentarians voted in favor of the country’s fiscal relief package. Almost total ban on abortion, setting the stage for a potential clash with the country’s conservative president over women’s rights. In Friday’s vote, MPs supported several proposals to ease abortion regulations, including a proposal by newly elected Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s party to decriminalize abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

But the proposal is likely to face opposition from President Andrzej Duda, who is aligned with the staunchly conservative Law and Justice Party, known by its Polish acronym PiS.

Poland’s current abortion law, introduced in 2020 by a PiS-backed court, is broadly Regarded as one of the toughest in Europe. Abortion is only permitted in very limited circumstances. Under current law, abortion is not permitted, even in cases of severe fetal abnormality or rape.

Punishments for abortion procedures can vary depending on the circumstances, but helping someone obtain an abortion or even promoting an abortion procedure in Poland can result in up to three years in prison.

In recent years, several pregnant women have died from complications after doctors refused to terminate their pregnancies for fear of prosecution.

Two of the proposed bills supported by lawmakers on Friday aim to decriminalize abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, and the other aims to decriminalize abortion completely. focused.

Despite Mr Tusk’s election promise to liberalize Poland’s abortion laws, the government is currently struggling with how much change it can support. The issue is indicative of deep rifts within Polish society, with some advocating greater reproductive freedom and others adamantly opposing any easing of current restrictions.

Parliament Speaker Shimon Horounia proposed holding a referendum on the issue. A referendum result in favor of easing restrictions will increase pressure on Mr Duda, who has previously vetoed all attempts to change the current law pushed by political allies.

A November 2022 poll in Pollan found that 70% of respondents supported legal abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, demonstrating widespread public support for relaxing current laws.

The measure voted on Friday is not part of actual legislation, but merely a proposal that could serve as the basis for future legislation. But in addition to opinion polls and moderate Prime Minister Tusk’s views; Victory in the December election The move against incumbent Mateusz Morawiecki, a right-wing nationalist from the PiS party, signals a broader shift in attitudes in a country that has emerged over the past decade as one of Europe’s most conservative-leaning countries. are doing.