Poland’s Parliament Rejects Bill to Decriminalize Abortion AssistancePoland’s Parliament Rejects Bill to Decriminalize Abortion Assistance Poland’s lower house of parliament has voted down a bill that would have eliminated criminal penalties for aiding or obtaining an abortion. The decision highlights deep divisions within the ruling coalition on the issue of abortion, one of the most restrictive in Europe. Under the rejected bill, individuals assisting in abortions, including those providing abortion pills, and doctors performing abortions in the early stages of pregnancy or in cases of fetal abnormalities, would have been exempt from prosecution. Reproductive rights have been at the forefront of Poland’s political discourse since the introduction of a near-total abortion ban in 2021 by the previous nationalist government. Since taking power in December, Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s coalition government has reinstated public funding for IVF and eased access to emergency contraception. However, the coalition has faced internal opposition on further liberalization of abortion laws. The bill voted down on Friday was part of a package of four bills aimed at relaxing abortion restrictions, but it was defeated with support from members of the governing Christian Democratic Third Way party as well as the opposition Law and Justice and Confederation parties. Abortion rights advocates have expressed disappointment with the outcome. They argue that the vote sends a chilling message to doctors and individuals seeking assistance. Work on the remaining bills in the package continues. Two would permit abortions up to 12 weeks, while the Third Way’s proposal would restore the right to terminate pregnancies in cases of fetal abnormalities, a situation that existed before a constitutional court ruling in 2020. President Andrzej Duda, a staunch anti-abortion advocate, has threatened to veto any bill that reaches his desk. He is expected to leave office at the end of 2023.
Poland’s lower house of parliament on Friday rejected a bill that would have scrapped penalties for people who help someone get an abortion, underscoring deep divisions in the ruling coalition over loosening one of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws. Under the bill, people who help arrange abortions, such as by providing abortion pills, and doctors who perform abortions in the early weeks of pregnancy or because of fetal abnormalities, would no longer be charged.
Reproductive rights and health care are high on the agenda in Poland, which introduced a near-total ban on abortion in 2021 under the previous nationalist government. Since Prime Minister Donald Tusk came to power in December, the broad coalition of moderate left and right has restored public funding for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and voted to change the rules on access to emergency contraception.
One of his party’s campaign promises was to provide access to abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, but progress on such bills has stalled due to disagreements within the governing coalition. Under current law, abortion is only legal in cases of rape or incest, or when a woman’s health or life is at risk.
In April, lawmakers sent four bills to ease abortion restrictions to a special bipartisan committee for consideration. Friday’s bill was the first of the bills to be voted on by the lower house. It was rejected by nearly half of lawmakers from the Christian Democratic Third Way party, which is part of the government, as well as members of the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) and Confederation parties.
Abortion rights advocates said the vote was a setback. “Doctors will still be afraid to perform abortions, and girlfriends can be sent to prison for helping their girlfriends. Women will continue to fear for their health and lives,” Deputy Family Minister Aleksandra Gajewska wrote on the social media platform X.
Work on the other bills continues. Two would allow abortions up to 12 weeks and the third, proposed by the Third Way, would restore the right to abortion in cases of fetal abnormalities, returning the situation to what it was before a 2020 constitutional court ruling. President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally and fiercely anti-abortion, had vowed to use his presidential veto to prevent Friday’s bill from becoming law if it passes. He is expected to step down at the end of next year.
(Disclaimer: With input from authorities.)
