Szymon Hołownia, the leader of the center-right Poland 2050 party and parliamentary speaker, has reiterated his call for a referendum on the abortion law, stating that the Polish people want a vote on the issue.
Poland's newly-formed coalition government wants to reverse changes introduced through a 2020 verdict of the Constitutional Tribunal, consisting mainly of judges appointed by the then ruling socially-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which made abortion accessible only when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest or when the woman's life or health is in danger.
However, the government seems divided by differing views on liberalizing abortion laws.
The centrist Civic Coalition (KO) wants to make abortion legal up to the 12th week of pregnancy, while the New Left submitted two bills on abortion regulation in November, one aligned with KO’s and another partially decriminalizing abortion and assistance in it.
However, the government seems divided by differing views on liberalizing abortion laws.
The centrist Civic Coalition (KO) wants to make abortion legal up to the 12th week of pregnancy, while the New Left submitted two bills on abortion regulation in November, one aligned with KO’s and another partially decriminalizing abortion and assistance in it.
The center-right Third Way, of which Poland 2050 is a part, seeks a return to a decades-long abortion compromise permitting abortion in certain cases that was removed by the constitutional court's 2020 ruling. The previous act permitted abortion in the case of severe and irreversible fetal impairment or an incurable disease that threatens the child’s life.
The Third Way has also proposed a referendum on this issue.
Szymon Hołownia commented on Wednesday on a new opinion poll for the newspaper Super Express that showed that 56% of Poles support a referendum.
“This issue is one of the most important because it divides Polish society,” Hołownia said, adding that “that is why we (Poland 2050) consistently, invariably, and, as it turns out, rightly, fight for what Poles, not MPs, want.”
He added that by going to the public, the government would bypass a parliament dominated by men.
“The Sejm [lower house of the Polish parliament], made up of 70% men, is decidedly more conservative than the public,” said Hołownia. “It will be difficult to pass any liberalization of abortion over [the next] four years.”
President Andrzej Duda, who is considered a PiS ally, recently expressed his opposition to a referendum on abortion rights. However, according to Hołownia, legally, he is not able to veto its results.
Hołownia pledged that parliament will deal with the abortion law on April 11, right after local elections.
The Third Way has also proposed a referendum on this issue.
Szymon Hołownia commented on Wednesday on a new opinion poll for the newspaper Super Express that showed that 56% of Poles support a referendum.
“This issue is one of the most important because it divides Polish society,” Hołownia said, adding that “that is why we (Poland 2050) consistently, invariably, and, as it turns out, rightly, fight for what Poles, not MPs, want.”
He added that by going to the public, the government would bypass a parliament dominated by men.
“The Sejm [lower house of the Polish parliament], made up of 70% men, is decidedly more conservative than the public,” said Hołownia. “It will be difficult to pass any liberalization of abortion over [the next] four years.”
President Andrzej Duda, who is considered a PiS ally, recently expressed his opposition to a referendum on abortion rights. However, according to Hołownia, legally, he is not able to veto its results.
Hołownia pledged that parliament will deal with the abortion law on April 11, right after local elections.
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