Polish Sejm passes abortion law relaxation, final word rests with president

Parliamentary breakthrough in reproductive rights regulation

On Tuesday, 20 October, the Polish Sejm voted for a package of amendments to legislation concerning abortion. This is the first time in the last three decades that the lower house of parliament has supported initiatives aimed at relaxing current restrictions. Votes were cast on two separate documents, each addressing a specific legal issue.

Details of the adopted bills

The first of the approved texts provides for the partial decriminalisation of actions related to abortion. Under it, women, as well as individuals who assist them in terminating a pregnancy in violation of current norms, will be exempt from criminal liability in certain situations. This bill passed the Sejm by a minimal margin: 217 deputies voted in favour, 213 against, and three members of parliament abstained.

The second document, supported by 233 votes against 203 (one deputy abstained), restores the possibility of terminating a pregnancy in cases where severe and irreversible developmental defects of the fetus or an incurable disease threatening its life are detected. It is worth noting that this ground was removed from current legislation following a 2020 decision by the Constitutional Tribunal, which came into force in January 2021.

Next steps in the legislative process

Despite the positive decision by the Sejm, no automatic changes to the legal framework will occur. Both bills must go through further stages, including review by President Karol Nawrocki. Currently, in Poland, abortion is permitted exclusively in two cases: when there is a threat to the life or health of the pregnant woman, or when the pregnancy resulted from a crime.