Polish lawmakers vote to ease abortion ban, but face likely presidential veto

Poland's lower house of parliament ​on Tuesday voted to allow ​abortion in case of ‌foetal abnormalities ​and to decriminalise providing help in getting an abortion, as lawmakers seek to reverse a near-total ‌abortion ban introduced by the previous government. The legislation, however, is almost certain to be vetoed by the nationalist president.

Poland, a predominantly Catholic country, introduced a near-total ‌abortion ban in 2021 after the constitutional court ruled that terminations ‌due to foetal abnormalities were unconstitutional. The abortion ban led to widespread protests. Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition won the 2023 election partly on a pledge to ease ⁠abortion restrictions. President ​Karol Nawrocki ⁠has signalled he would block any liberalisation of the law.

"The reality is that these pieces ⁠of legislation represent very limited small-scale reform and would not improve the situation for ​most women in Poland who need abortion care," Leah Hoctor, Vice ⁠President for Europe at the Center for Reproductive Rights, told Reuters. Separate draft legislation that ⁠would ​legalise abortion on request up to 12 weeks of pregnancy is under consideration in parliamentary committees.

Tusk's government had earlier taken steps to expand ⁠access to abortions under existing regulations which allow abortion on mental health grounds. Under ⁠the current law, ⁠abortion is only legal in cases involving rape or incest, or when a woman's health or life is ‌at risk.