Politics Reform of abortion law fails in Poland's parliament

Poland's parliament has rejected an amendment to liberalize abortion law. The bill, which provided for the decriminalization of abortion assistance, was voted against by 218 MPs, while 215 voted in favour.

Among those who rejected the bill were parliamentarians from the government camp. This is a defeat for Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who had promised to strengthen women's rights during the election campaign.

Abortion law in Poland is currently one of the strictest in Europe. Abortion is only permitted after rape or incest - or if the life of the pregnant woman is in danger. If the unborn child has severe deformities, women are not allowed to have an abortion.

The abortion itself is not punishable by law. However, abetting an abortion is punishable by up to three years in prison. This can also apply to husbands, partners or relatives who procure abortion pills for a pregnant woman.

The proposal to make assisted abortion unpunishable in future came from the left-wing alliance Lewica, which is part of Tusk's coalition government. However, another coalition partner threw a spanner in the works: 24 MPs from the Christian-conservative Third Way voted against it, including Defense Minister Wladyslaw Koszyniak-Kamysz. Two MPs from Tusk's own party, the liberal-conservative Civic Coalition, abstained. The vote shows how deeply divided the coalition is on the issue of abortion.

The women's organization Federa spoke of a "slap in the face" for every woman. "Doctors will continue to be able to hide behind the fear of making themselves liable to prosecution if they help their patients. Families and friends will continue to risk their freedom if they help their loved ones," it said in a statement.