In the aftermath of demonstrations to defend the right to abortion, the conservatives voted against its ban. The final vote in Parliament will take place next Thursday.
While thousands of women dressed in black took to the streets of Warsaw (Poland), to defend the right to abortion, conservative deputies voted against the bill almost completely banning this right in parliamentary committee. A 180-degree turn operated by the Law and Justice party (PiS) which was, until then, in favor of this project.
By the very admission of former liberal Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz, member of the Justice Committee, the conservatives fear these feminist demonstrations. Especially since they are supported by more than 67% of Poles, according to a Millward Brown poll.
And the Polish population is not the only one to have expressed its disagreement. The Church, very influential in this Eastern European country, does not support this project which plans to punish with 5 years in prison women who resort to voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) as well as doctors or anyone participating in an abortion. The European Parliament also called on Poland to put an end to this proposal and act instead in favor of gender equality.
Final vote next week
It must be said that the debate around abortion has agitated Polish society for almost 80 years. Polish legislation is one of the most restrictive: only women victims of rape, incest or carrying a fetus with severe malformations have the right to abort. But abortion can only be performed after the approval of doctors and in a center recognized by the State.
The rejection of a new ban is therefore a victory for feminist organizations and defenders of the right to abortion. But this decline under pressure from the street must still be approved by all the deputies. The vote could take place next Thursday.
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