Poland’s new government wants to significantly liberalize abortion rights. Abortions up to the twelfth week of pregnancy must be “legal and safe”, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in Warsaw on Wednesday. A corresponding bill is expected to be submitted to parliament soon.
Poland’s abortion laws are so far more restrictive than almost anywhere else in Europe. Abortions are currently only allowed in cases of rape or incest, or if the mother’s life is in danger.
Access to the morning-after pill should be made easier
Tusk also announced a bill to make access to the emergency contraceptive ‘morning after pill’ much easier. The right-wing nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), which ruled until the change of power in December, introduced a prescription requirement for the ‘morning after pill’ in 2017.
The hormone preparation with the active ingredient levonogestrel, which is taken within twelve hours after sexual intercourse, is used to suppress ovulation and thus prevent unwanted pregnancy. It is not the same as the abortion pill (active ingredient mifepristone, trade name Mifegyne).
Liberalization was an election promise
The left-liberal and pro-European camp had already promised to liberalize abortion rights during the election campaign. After their election victory in October, Tusk and his coalition partners included the planned reform in their coalition agreement. According to Tusk, for easier access to the morning-after pill, the bill provides for over-the-counter access from the age of 15.
After being accepted by parliament, Polish President Andrzej Duda, who is close to the PiS party, still needs to put the new laws into effect.
Source: Krone
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