Lawmakers in Poland have given their approval to initiatives aimed at loosening the country’s extremely strict abortion laws, potentially leading to a contentious battle over women’s rights with the conservative president. The parliamentarians voted in favor of multiple proposals to ease the restrictions on abortion, including one put forth by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s party that seeks to decriminalize abortions within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Poland’s abortion law, which was implemented in 2020 with the support of PiS, is considered to be one of the most stringent in Europe. It only allows for abortions in extremely limited circumstances. Even in cases of severe fetal abnormalities or rape, the current law does not permit abortion.
Two bills supported by lawmakers on Friday are aiming to decriminalize abortions, with one bill focusing on decriminalizing abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy and another seeking complete decriminalization of abortion.
Szymon Holownia, the president of the parliament, has put forward the idea of a national referendum to address the issue. If the referendum results support a relaxation of the restrictions, it would add further pressure on Duda, as he has consistently vetoed any efforts to revise the current laws that were implemented by his political allies.
According to a survey conducted in November 2022 in Poland, 70% of respondents expressed their support for legal abortions up to the 12th week of pregnancy. This indicates a significant level of public support for a relaxation of the existing laws.
The measures voted on Friday were not actual legislation but rather proposals that could serve as the foundation for future bills. These proposals, along with public opinion polls and the victory of moderate Prime Minister Tusk in December’s election over right-wing nationalist Mateusz Morawiecki of the PiS party, indicate a broader change in attitudes in Poland. Over the past decade, Poland has emerged as one of Europe’s most conservative-leaning nations.
