Polish lawmakers will vote on whether to lift a near-total abortion ban
Polish lawmakers are to vote on whether to lift the country’s near total abortion ban, a divisive issue in the traditionally Roman Catholic country, which has one of the most restrictive laws in Europe
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish lawmakers are due to vote Friday on whether to lift a near-total ban on abortion, a highly divisive issue in the traditionally Roman Catholic country, which has one of the most restrictive laws in Europe.
The party of centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk wants to change the law to allow women to terminate pregnancies until the 12th week of pregnancy.
Lawmakers spent six hours Thursday discussing four separate bills aiming to ease the country’s abortion laws. Abortion rights advocates, who have long wanted to put the issue on the legislative agenda, watched from the assembly gallery as lawmakers finally debated the proposed changes.
Meanwhile, anti-abortion activists held a demonstration outside with small plastic fetus figurines and graphic images of damaged fetuses, and a baby's cry blasting from loudspeakers as they called for a total abortion ban.
