Polish Senate backs easing of abortion rules
Two bills now go to President Karol Nawrocki, who has previously criticised liberalisation.
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Poland’s Senate has passed two bills that partially ease the country’s strict abortion rules. The bills now go to President Karol Nawrocki, once again exposing a political conflict within the pro-European governing coalition.
One of the bills restores the possibility of terminating a pregnancy in cases of serious foetal abnormalities. That ground was removed in 2020 following a ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal. The second bill limits criminal risks for people who help with an abortion outside the existing legal grounds.
According to reports, the Senate voted 58 to 33, with three abstentions, in favour of the bill concerning the third legal ground. Both bills must still be signed by the president before they become law.
The vote is another step in the promise made by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his broad governing coalition to ease Poland’s abortion law. The coalition consists of parties ranging from the left to the centre-right, which disagree among themselves over how far liberalisation should go.
President Nawrocki has previously taken a critical stance towards easing the rules. A veto is therefore possible. The governing coalition does not automatically have the majority needed to override a presidential veto. The Senate can pass the bills, but the final signature lies with the head of state.
Poland’s current rules are among the strictest in Europe. Abortion is permitted in limited circumstances, including when the life or health of the pregnant woman is at risk and in cases of pregnancy resulting from a criminal offence. The precise application of these exceptions has led to protests and uncertainty among doctors in recent years.
For the Netherlands, the vote is mainly relevant as a sign of the political struggle over the rule of law and reproductive rights within the European Union. The Senate decisions do not yet mean that the rules will change. The next decisive step lies with Nawrocki; until then, the current law remains in force.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Senate has passed two bills on abortion.
- The bills go to President Karol Nawrocki.
- One bill restores a ground relating to serious foetal abnormalities.
- The current law has not yet changed.
Left
Arguments Women should have access to safe and legal care and should not be forced to carry a pregnancy to term by the threat of criminal prosecution or medical uncertainty.
Values Bodily autonomy, equal access to healthcare and protection for doctors.
Consequences Easing the rules could reduce medical uncertainty, but limited reform would leave many situations unchanged.
Centre
Arguments A compromise that removes the most severe consequences of the current law may be more politically feasible than full liberalisation.
Values Legal certainty, administrative practicality and protection of differing views.
Consequences Partial reform could provide relief quickly, but also prompt new debates about the remaining exceptions.
Right
Arguments The state should protect unborn life and should not force through changes without broad social and constitutional legitimacy.
Values Protection of unborn life, freedom of conscience and national democratic decision-making.
Consequences A veto would preserve the current rules, but could further intensify the divide between the government and the president.
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 Senate vote and the next step towards the president have been confirmed by reports and the Senate procedure. The description of the existing abortion grounds and the political background is based on recent Polish and European reporting.
- confirmed Poland’s Senate has passed two abortion-related bills. — Reported on 6 November 2026 and linked to the Senate procedure. source
- confirmed One bill received 58 votes in favour, 33 against and three abstentions. — The vote count appears in the available reporting on the vote. source
- confirmed The bills go to President Karol Nawrocki. — This follows from Poland’s legislative procedure and reporting on the vote. source
- confirmed The ground concerning serious foetal abnormalities was removed following a 2020 ruling. — Background confirmed by Polskie Radio. source
Editor's note
The Senate has passed the two bills; they are not yet law. The precise political outcome depends on President Nawrocki and a possible veto.Sources
- Polish Senate passes two abortion bills, sending them to President Nawrocki — The Pollar Paper
- Ustawa nr 2188 — Senat Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
- Polish MPs vote to allow abortion in cases of severe foetal abnormalities — Polskie Radio
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „polen abortus”
- AD — „polen abortus”
- de Volkskrant — „polen abortus”