Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk has admitted that he cannot rally support from the parliament to amend the abortion law, which is one of the strictest in all of Europe. He was placed into office last December at the head of a coalition government that cuts across a wide ideological spectrum between left wing lawmakers who want to allow abortion and conservatives deeply opposed.
Getting rid of abortion prohibition within twelve weeks pregnant was one of his campaign promises.
“Until next elections there will be no parliamentary majority that would legalize abortion in its full sense, let’s not deceive ourselves,” said Tusk on Friday as it was raised during an event.
Parliamentary elections were held last October for a four-year term.
Instead Tusk noted that his government is working on new procedures within the prosecutor’s office as well as in Polish hospitals so as to remove some de facto restrictions. “It is already happening and you will see it very distinctly,” explained Tusk.
But Poland is largely Catholic country with a strong church. However, this central European nation with more than 38 million people is experiencing rapid secularization along with prosperity increase. Abortion remains one of the key issues for many voters and source or deep social and political divides.
Abortion is permitted only if, under existing laws, a woman claims she has been raped or her pregnancy resulted from incest or where her life or health are in danger.
The preceding right to termination due to defects in foetus was abolished by previous conservative administration through new legislation. This led to mass street demonstrations.
Lawfully allowed cases often result in women being denied abortions; reports have been made concerning deaths related to medical emergencies when hospitals gave preference to saving fetuses instead of their mothers’ lives. Some doctors may totally refuse performing any abortions especially in conservative regions due to conscious objection purposes.
In order for a woman undergoing such difficulties after being impregnated through rape or incest she must report this case to prosecutors’ offices and then seek permission from the court. As per activists fighting for abortion rights, this is not common because of stigma and also because the legal procedure takes too long sometimes.
However, many women have abortions, mainly by using abortion pills sent to them from abroad or travelling to other countries.
Abortion itself is not a crime under law but assisting in it is illegal. In one case an activist was convicted for giving a woman abortion pills.
“The only thing I can promise within the framework of the current legislation is that we will do everything in order to make sure that women tolerate less pain in such situations; abortion must be as safe as possible if it has to happen anywhere, so that people who help women would not be prosecuted,” said Tusk.
