'Blood on your hands': Polish ruling party boss slams opposition amid protests

Poland's ruling party leader accused opposition politicians of having "blood on their hands" for supporting protests the government blames for helping to spread COVID-19, as police kept demonstrators against an abortion ruling away from parliament.

Poland's ruling party leader accused opposition politicians of having "blood on their hands" for supporting protests the government blames for helping to spread COVID-19, as police kept demonstrators against an abortion ruling away from parliament. Protesters had planned to blockade parliament as part of demonstrations against a top court ruling that amounted to a near-total ban on abortion.

Police kept them away from the building and local media reported that scuffles broke out in the city centre. A left-wing lawmaker said a member of their party was beaten by police. Television footage showed a line of riot police blocking the route of protesters.

A police spokesman could not be reached for comment. "All the demonstrations you supported have cost the lives of many people -- you have blood on your hands," Law and Justice (PiS) party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski told opposition lawmakers in the parliament.

PiS have blamed the protests for spreading COVID-19. Earlier footage from private broadcaster TVN 24 showed protesters playing drums and dancing in the street, while others carried placards with slogans including "Womens' Hell".

While centered on abortion, the protests have seen a broader outpouring of anger at Poland's nationalist rulers and their allies in the Catholic church, the latest manifestation of a battle between liberals and religious conservatives that this time touches on the government’s response to COVID-19. Pictures on social media showed large numbers of police vans outside parliament before the protest was due to start.

"The fact that there are so many police officers ... shows that PiS are afraid of women," left-wing lawmaker Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus told Reuters by telephone. A PiS spokeswomen could not immediately be reached for comment.

The protests took place as Polish lawmakers met in the parliament to discuss issues such as the country's veto of the European Union's budget and a post-COVID recovery package.

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