Polish MPs Reject Bill Seeking to Ease Strict Abortion Law

The draft law aimed at liberalizing abortion access in Poland was rejected by a narrow margin of 218 votes against to 215 votes in favor. This conservative bill was one of four proposed drafts, and its rejection maintains Poland's restrictive abortion laws, which are among the most stringent in Europe. The vote marked a defeat for Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his centrist government coalition. While Polish women can currently terminate pregnancies without criminal liability, those who provide medical abortions, including relatives and activists, face up to three years in prison if caught. Despite this, doctors may still choose to hide behind the fear of criminal liability to avoid assisting patients seeking abortions.