Polish women protest over lack of abortion reform
Demonstrators accuse the Tusk government of promising changes that for now do little to alter the reality.
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Women protested in more than twenty Polish cities on Thursday for broader access to legal abortion. The protests followed two bills passed by parliament earlier this week, but which are likely to be blocked by President Karol Nawrocki.
The demonstrators are calling, among other things, for access to abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy and protection for people who help someone obtain an abortion. They are also calling for an end to protests outside hospitals and clinics. According to the Associated Press, actions took place in dozens of cities and villages.
On Tuesday, the Polish parliament voted in favour of two limited relaxations. One proposal would make helping someone obtain an abortion partially less punishable. The other would reverse the consequences of a 2020 ruling, meaning that abortion in cases of serious foetal abnormalities would no longer automatically be prohibited.
The proposals are not yet law. President Nawrocki, who can rely on the support of conservative and nationalist parties, has indicated that he wants to block liberalisation. It is therefore uncertain whether the parliamentary decisions will actually lead to broader access.
Since 1993, abortion in Poland has been permitted only in limited circumstances, including danger to the life or health of the pregnant woman and pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. The 2020 constitutional ruling removed the possibility of abortion because of serious foetal abnormalities and led to major protests.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s liberal coalition promised before the election to relax abortion law. The government says it has already taken steps within the existing rules to improve access. Campaign groups, however, consider the plans too limited and accuse the coalition of mainly presenting symbolic measures that are unlikely to receive presidential approval.
The issue also has a European dimension. Poland is among the EU countries with the strictest abortion rules. The outcome of the power struggle between parliament and the president could therefore affect the debate on reproductive rights in other European countries, although abortion policy remains primarily a national responsibility.
The protests do not directly change the law. They do show that the issue has once again become a major conflict between the pro-European governing coalition, a conservative presidency and civil-society organisations calling for full legalisation.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Demonstrations have been held in Poland against limited access to abortion.
- Parliament has adopted two proposals that partially relax the rules.
- The president can still block the proposals.
- Current law permits abortion only in limited circumstances.
Left
Arguments From a left-wing perspective, broader access to abortion is a condition for bodily autonomy and equal access to healthcare. The government must turn its promises into full legal protection.
Values Self-determination, gender equality and access to healthcare.
Consequences Failure to reform would leave women dependent on exceptions, medical interpretations and support networks outside the regular healthcare system.
Centre
Arguments The centre emphasises that reform must be legally and politically feasible. Limited amendments can be a first step if full legalisation cannot currently secure a majority or presidential approval.
Values Institutional feasibility, legal certainty and governmental stability.
Consequences Gradual reform can deliver tangible improvements, but may also cause disappointment if little changes in practice.
Right
Arguments The conservative view is that protecting unborn life should carry significant weight and that abortion should not be treated simply as routine healthcare. In this view, decisions should remain within strict legal limits.
Values Protection of unborn life, religious conviction and national sovereignty.
Consequences Broad legalisation could increase social polarisation and weaken conservative voters’ trust in institutions.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The legal and political developments have been confirmed by multiple recent sources. The text clearly distinguishes between adopted bills and actual changes to the law.
- confirmed Demonstrations were held in more than twenty Polish cities on 22 October. — Reported by AP and Euronews. source
- confirmed The Polish parliament adopted two proposals that relax abortion rules. — Reuters and Euronews describe both votes. source
- confirmed President Karol Nawrocki is likely to veto the proposals. — AP and Reuters report that a veto is expected. source
- confirmed The 2020 ruling made abortion in cases of serious foetal abnormalities no longer possible. — Euronews describes the consequences of the ruling. source
Editor's note
The demonstrations, the two parliamentary proposals and the expected presidential vetoes have been reported by AP, Euronews and Reuters. The precise consequences for access to care remain dependent on further legislation and implementation.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „polen abortus”
- NU.nl — „polen abortus”
- De Telegraaf — „polen abortus”