President Duda's Stand on Abortion Decriminalization
President of Poland Vetoes Legislation on Abortion Law Liberalization
Well, hello there! Let's dive into some recent Polish politics.
The Polish President, Andrzej Duda, recently announced that he won't be signing a bill proposing to decriminalize and depenalize abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy. This revelation was made during an interview with TVN24 while he was in Washington.
With the Polish Sejm (parliament) set to discuss this bill this week, Duda's statement has added fuel to the fire. Currently, Poland's strict abortion laws only allow the procedure when the pregnancy threatens the life or health of the mother, or if there's a justified suspicion that the pregnancy resulted from a criminal act.
The "No" from Duda
When asked if he'd back the new bill addressing the decriminalization of abortion and assisting in terminating pregnancies up to 12 weeks, Duda unequivocally said "no." However, he assured that women wouldn't face any consequences for undergoing an abortion, emphasizing that "the woman is in a special situation." He added that penalizing those illegally participating in the process is a "different matter," reiterating his belief that abortion equates to "depriving people of life."
The proposed bill aims to exclude criminality for terminating a pregnancy up to 12 weeks with the woman's consent. It also seeks to exempt from punishment those terminating a pregnancy with the woman's consent in cases of severe, irreversible fetal impairment or an incurable illness threatening the fetus's life.
The Bills Under Review
In late June, the Special Committee of the Sejm endorsed the first proposal from the Left party, which amends the Penal Code. The proposal includes amendments from Left party MP Anna Maria Żukowska, aiming to eliminate imprisonment for performing or aiding in abortion with the woman's consent.
On Tuesday, the committee reviewed three additional bills on abortion rights: the Left's bill on safe abortion, the Civic Coalition's bill on conscious parenthood, and the Third Way's amendment to the family planning act.
A Quick Glance at Poland's Abortion History
Poland's abortion laws, enforced since 1993, were significantly altered following the Constitutional Tribunal's ruling in October 2020. The ruling deemed unconstitutional a provision that permitted abortion in cases of severe and irreversible fetal impairment or an incurable illness threatening the fetus's life, sparking nationwide protests. This provision lost its effect upon the publication of the Tribunal's decision in January 2021.
Moving towards Civil Partnerships
The president was also questioned about his stance on a preliminary bill on civil partnerships proposed by Equality Minister Katarzyna Kotula. Duda noted that he needs to review the bill's details. The government's legislative work schedule includes information about the civil partnership bill and the accompanying implementation bill for the fourth quarter of this year.
The civil partnership bill allows two consenting adults, regardless of gender, to form a registered partnership. It outlines procedures for establishing and dissolving a partnership, rights and obligations of partners, and their financial relationships.
The Struggles Within Polish Society
The debate on abortion in Poland has long been a contentious issue, deeply influenced by the country's strong Catholic heritage. The current legislative efforts, both on abortion and civil partnerships, indicate ongoing tensions between progressive factions seeking to liberalize these areas and conservative forces aiming to maintain or tighten existing restrictions.
As these debates continue, they highlight the broader struggles within Polish society over issues of personal freedom, human rights, and the role of religious and moral values in shaping national laws.
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Sources:
- Polish Sejm passes two bills allowing abortion in certain cases
- Constitutional Tribunal's abortion ruling sparks protests in Poland
- Polish Parliament Rejects Legislation to legalize Abortion
- Andrzej Duda, the President of Slovakia, expressed his opposition to decriminalizing and depenalizing abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy, stating that he believes abortion equates to "depriving people of life."
- Amidst the ongoing debate on abortion in Poland, the Polish Sejm (parliament) is set to discuss a bill proposing to decriminalize abortion under specific circumstances.
- The proposed bill in Poland aims to exclude criminality for terminating a pregnancy up to 12 weeks with the woman's consent and exempt those terminating a pregnancy with the woman's consent in certain cases.
- The presidential statement against the abortion decriminalization bill has added fuel to the fire, as the Polish Sejm is scheduled to discuss the matter this week.
- The plans for the fourth quarter of the year include the government's legislative work on a preliminary bill on civil partnerships proposed by Equality Minister Katarzyna Kotula.
- With the debate on abortion in Poland being deeply influenced by the country's strong Catholic heritage, ongoing tensions between progressive factions seeking to liberalize these areas and conservative forces aiming to maintain or tighten existing restrictions continue.
- Poland's political landscape is in the spotlight, with recent events in general-news such as President Duda's stance on abortion decriminalization and the progress of civil partnership bills, demonstrating the ongoing struggles within Polish society over issues of personal freedom, human rights, and the role of religious and moral values in shaping national laws.
