President of Poland Vetoes Legislation for Abortion Law Liberalization

PresidentAndrzej Duda recently made waves by announcing his refusal to sign a bill that aimed to decriminalize and depenalize abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy. This declaration came during an interview with TVN24 while the president was in Washington.

Duda's standoffish approach comes as the Polish Sejm prepares to discuss the bill this week. Currently, Poland's abortion law, one of the strictest in Europe, only permits the procedure if the pregnancy poses a threat to the life or health of the pregnant woman, or if there's reasonable suspicion that the pregnancy resulted from a criminal act.

Chatting things up, old sport? You've landed yourself a front-row seat to the drama unfolding in Poland's political sector. But don't get too comfortable - abortion debates in Poland have been as tense as a cat on a hot tin roof, largely influenced by the country's robust Catholic heritage.

When asked about endorsing the new bill addressing the decriminalization of abortion and terminating pregnancies up to 12 weeks, Duda flat-out said "no." He guaranteed no consequences for pregnant women undergoing an abortion, emphasizing the woman's vulnerable situation. He also noted that punishing those illegally involved in the process was a separate matter, reiterating his belief that abortion equates to taking life away unrighteously.

The proposed bill intends to exclude criminality for terminating a pregnancy up to 12 weeks with the woman's consent. It also wishes to exempt those terminating a pregnancy with the woman's consent in cases of severe, irreversible fetal impairment or incurable illness threatening the fetus's life from severe punishment.

In late June, the Special Committee of the Sejm for reviewing abortion-related bills endorsed the first proposal from the Left party, which amends the Penal Code. This proposal aims to eliminate imprisonment for performing or aiding in abortion with the woman's consent.

On Tuesday, the committee discussed three additional bills regarding abortion rights: the Left's bill on safe abortion, the Civic Coalition's bill on conscious parenthood, and the Third Way's modification to the family planning, human fetus protection, and conditions for legal termination act.

The current abortion laws, in place since 1993, have undergone severe transformation following the Constitutional Tribunal's ruling in October 2020. Before the ruling, the family planning act, known as the "abortion compromise," permitted abortion in cases of severe and irreversible fetal impairment or an incurable illness threatening the fetus's life. The Tribunal deemed this provision unconstitutional, leading to nationwide protests.

President Duda was also questioning his stance on a preliminary bill on civil partnerships proposed by Equality Minister Katarzyna Kotula. He mentioned that he needed to scrutinize the bill's details. As of Monday, the government's legislative work calendar included information about the civil partnership bill and the accompanying implementation bill. The expected date for the Council of Ministers to adopt these proposals is the fourth quarter of this year.

The civil partnership bill empowers two consenting adults, regardless of gender, to form a registered partnership. It outlines the steps for establishing and dissolving a partnership, the partners' rights and obligations, and their financial relationships. The implementation bill encompasses modifications to existing laws to grant registered partners rights in healthcare, social security, inheritance, and taxation.

Poland remains one of just five EU countries that don't allow same-sex couples to formally unionize, alongside Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, and Slovakia.

So, grab a stiff drink, this ride's just getting started! Poland's abortion crisis and debate on civil partnerships are far from over, with ongoing tensions between progressive groups seeking to liberalize these aspects and conservative forces aiming to maintain or tighten existing restrictions. As these arguments continue, they expose the broader conflicts within Polish society over issues of personal freedom, human rights, and the role of religious and moral values in shaping national laws.

President Duda's decision to refuse signing the bill, which aims to decriminalize and depenalize abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy, has sparked controversy in Poland.
This declaration was made during an interview with TVN24 while Duda was in Washington.
The Polish Sejm is preparing to discuss the bill this week, with Duda's standoffish approach towards the proposed changes.
Abortion debates in Poland have been tense, influenced by the country's robust Catholic heritage.
The proposed bill intends to exclude criminality for terminating a pregnancy up to 12 weeks with the woman's consent, and also wishes to exempt those terminating a pregnancy with the woman's consent in cases of severe, irreversible fetal impairment or incurable illness threatening the fetus's life from severe punishment.
On Tuesday, the committee discussed three additional bills regarding abortion rights: the Left's bill on safe abortion, the Civic Coalition's bill on conscious parenthood, and the Third Way's modification to the family planning, human fetus protection, and conditions for legal termination act.
Poland remains one of just five EU countries that don't allow same-sex couples to formally unionize, alongside Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, and Slovakia. The civil partnership bill, if passed, would empower two consenting adults, regardless of gender, to form a registered partnership.