Polish parliament revives abortion bills amid government criticism
A special Sejm committee approved two abortion proposals, one easing restrictions and another allowing termination for severe fetal defects, as lawmakers argue the issue is being used to distract from the ruling coalition's poor performance.
On Thursday, a special committee of the Polish Sejm endorsed two legislative initiatives concerning abortion. The first bill proposes a partial de-criminalisation of the procedure, while the second seeks to restore the possibility of terminating pregnancies when severe fetal defects are present. PiS lawmaker Bartłomiej Wróblewski told DoRzeczy,pl that the sudden resurgence of the abortion debate is intended to divert attention from the governing coalition's low popularity, mounting public-debt concerns, and recent scandals such as the South Hospital case and alleged misconduct in Kłodzko.
He argued that the term "de-criminalisation" is deliberately confusing and effectively amounts to abortion on request, which was previously struck down by the Constitutional Tribunal in 1997. Wróblewski labelled the opposition's actions as "legal nihilism" and described the committee as a "commission of shame" for attempting to legalise what he calls the killing of children. He warned that the strategy would not solve Poland's pressing problems.
Why it matters
The move could reshape Poland's abortion laws and signals political tactics amid a struggling government.
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