Polish parliament passes two abortion reforms as coalition faces internal split

During Tuesday's session the Polish Sejm passed two pieces of legislation on abortion. The first, introduced in July 2024 by members of Lewica and Koalicja Obywatelska, would partially de-criminalise abortions performed with the woman's consent in breach of current law and would de-criminalise assistance in self-termination. The second, put forward by Trzecia Droga, aims to overturn the 2020 Constitutional Tribunal decision and restore the right to abort fetuses with severe, irreversible defects.

The vote was narrowly split - 217 for, 213 against, with three abstentions - highlighting a conservative wing within the governing coalition. KO MP Dorota Łoboda told Polsat News that the coalition is divided over extending abortion rights up to 12 weeks and that the adopted bills are a compromise, not the full liberalisation KO seeks. She added that President Karol Nawrocki, who promised during his campaign not to sign any liberalising abortion law, is expected to veto the new statutes.