Under one of the bills proposed by the Left, announced on 14 November 2023, abortion on demand would be allowed up to the 12th week of pregnancy. After that point, terminations would be permitted if the pregnancy posed a threat to the mother’s health or life, if it resulted from rape or incest, or if the foetus was diagnosed with birth defects.
Then, also in November, the Left Club submitted a bill to the Sejm (parliament) legalising abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy and abolishing punishment for assisting in the termination of pregnancy. The Civic Coalition were also calling for the legalisation of abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy. The Third Way, on the other hand, proposed a referendum on the issue and are said to be very cautious about worldview issues.
Concern was then expressed that differences in views on women’s rights could divide the coalition partners in future votes.
After further debate, the coalition agreement included a provision to “remove the Constitutional Court’s verdict from 2020“, that is, to allow abortion on grounds of fetal anomaly again.
SOURCES: Notes from Poland, Ewa Szymera, Astra Secretariat, Poland, E-mail: 6 December 2023 VISUAL: Notes from Poland, 14 November 2023