Urszula Pasławska, MP of PSL-TD, who is taking part in the work on drafts for changes in abortion regulations, expressed the hope that the 3rd Way project, which assumes the restoration of abortion conditions in the event of severe foetal defects, would gain broad support in the Sejm and get the president's signature.
Currently, 4 draft laws amending existing abortion regulations are being considered in the Polish Sejm. Deputy Marshal Piotr Zgorzelski (PSL) reported in December that 2 of these projects would come out of the committee's work and enter plenary in early 2025. The extraordinary committee set up for the examination of abortion law projects is shortly to address the revision of the Criminal Code, which aims at partially decriminating abortion with the consent of a female and decriminalising the provision of assistance in the independent conduct of abortion. In addition, 1 of the projects under consideration is the proposal of the 3rd Way, which aims to reconstruct the legality of abortion in the event of a serious foetal defect.
In an interview with PAP, Ms Pasławska stressed that "there is an agreement on the 3rd Way project" and expressed hope that the project, thanks to its compromise nature, would find broad support not only in the government coalition but besides from the President. She besides stressed that the key nonsubjective of the task is to reconstruct the prerequisite for abortion in the event of a serious foetal defect. Ms Pasławska added that the justification of the task included a broader discussion of 3 conditions for abortion, and the task was besides somewhat corrected after the observations of the Ministry of Health.
The MP, asked about the erstwhile version of the task on partial decriminalisation of abortion, admitted that in last year's vote the provisions of this task could be interpreted besides liberally. "The narrowing of the rules gives a chance for greater support for this law," said Pasławska, stating that the erstwhile version was not precise enough. On the another hand, referring to further work on the decriminalisation project, PSL-TD assured that she would vote in favour of the fresh version, stressing that she had besides voted in favour of the erstwhile version of the project.
In the context of the referendum on abortion, which was proposed by the 3rd Road, Pasławska pointed out that it was essential to conclude this debate, which, in her opinion, divides Polish society. "The Polish state is to close the debate, which destroys the social fabric by dividing Poles into opponents and supporters of abortion," said the MP. According to her, the vote on abortion should take place on a social level, due to the fact that the proportions among citizens disagree from those in the Sejm, where 70% are men.
Dorota Loboda, chair of the peculiar committee for the KOs, indicated in an interview with PAP that there was no agreement to hold a referendum on abortion, regardless of which projects would be passed. In turn, the PSL-TD club spokesperson, Magdalena Sroka, pointed out that the 3rd Way task is simply a "project acceptable for now" and that changes to the decriminalisation task are essential to gain a majority in the Sejm.
According to the law in force in Poland, abortion is allowed in 2 cases: erstwhile pregnancy constitutes a threat to the life or wellness of the parent and erstwhile it is the consequence of a prohibited act. The judgement of the Constitutional Court of 2021 ruled out the anticipation of abortion in the event of severe foetal defects, considering this premise as unconstitutional.
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Source: PAP
