Poland’s restrictive abortion law, one of the strictest in Europe, remains unchanged despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s campaign promise to liberalize it. Tusk, who leads a coalition government encompassing a wide range of political views, has admitted that he lacks the parliamentary support to legalize abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, a key pledge from his campaign.
“There will be no majority in this parliament for legal abortion, in the full sense of the word, until the next elections. Let’s not kid ourselves,” Tusk stated during a recent event. This admission highlights the significant political and social divisions surrounding abortion in Poland, a predominantly Roman Catholic country. While Poland is experiencing rapid secularization and economic growth, abortion remains a deeply contentious issue for many voters.
Instead of altering the law, Tusk’s government is focusing on streamlining procedures within the prosecutor’s office and Polish hospitals to alleviate some of the existing restrictions. These changes, according to Tusk, are already underway and will have a noticeable impact. The current law permits abortion only in cases of rape or incest, or when the woman’s life or health is at risk. A recent amendment under the previous conservative government eliminated the right to abortion in cases of fetal deformities, sparking widespread protests.
The restrictive nature of the law often makes accessing legal abortion nearly impossible for women, even in cases permitted under the law. There have been reports of pregnant women dying after medical emergencies because hospitals prioritized saving the fetus. Some doctors, particularly in conservative regions, refuse to perform abortions, citing their personal beliefs. To obtain legal abortion in cases of rape or incest, a woman must report the crime to the prosecutor’s office and secure court permission, a process often deemed too stigmatizing and time-consuming.
Many women, however, still resort to abortion, often using pills obtained from abroad or traveling to other countries where abortion is legal. While the law does not criminalize women who have abortions, it does punish those who assist them. One notable case involved an activist convicted for providing abortion pills.
Despite the lack of legal reform, Tusk has pledged to make abortion as safe and accessible as possible for women who need it. He has also promised to protect individuals who assist women seeking abortion from prosecution. “I can only promise that within the framework of the existing law we will do everything to make women suffer less, to make abortion as safe as possible and accessible when a woman has to make such a decision. So that people who get involved in helping a woman are not prosecuted,” Tusk said.
