The leader of Poland’s Left party has told commercial radio RMF FM that his party will have to have greater representation in the Polish parliament for progress to be made on the liberalization of abortion legislation.
Włodzimierz Czarzasty revealed that abortion reform will not be a part of the coalition agreement between the parties that now have a majority in parliament because the centrist Poland 2050 and the Polish People’s Party (PSL) have refused to back any such changes.
Czarzasty said that his party supported abortion on demand until the 12th week of pregnancy, but it was clear that not all members of the new ruling coalition would endorse such a proposal. “For a majority to be secured in parliament, the Left will have to increase its representation at the next election,” Czarzasty concluded.
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He was pleased to see voters backing opposition parties but noted that “there are consequences“ as a result of the fact that so many who do not favor the liberalization of abortion legislation backed the two parties.
A constitutional court ruling in October 2020 led to the tightening of regulations on abortion in Poland. The court ruled that allowing abortions when the fetus was damaged, as the 1993 law allowed, was unconstitutional because it violated the right to life.
The ruling led to mass protests throughout Poland, involving marches and roadblocks. Most of the demonstrations were peaceful, but there was some damage to Church property and some isolated instances of violence.
