Voting on the bill depenalizing abortion has had serious political consequences. Donald Tusk gained a fresh problem alternatively of success. Meanwhile, Roman Giertych, risking his career in the Civic Coalition, placed everything on 1 card.
Why was it crucial for Donald Tusk to pass the depenalization bill? Well, the PO leader desperately needed symbolic success to close this political period with a bump. Instead, the vote in his opinion turned into a show of government ineptness, which, as the Prime Minister threatened, would have powerful political and individual consequences.
"Giertych and Sługocki will be suspended"
"It wasn't just a vote. Mr Grabczuk in the infirmary is justified. Members of Giertych and Sługocki will be suspended from the parliamentary club and deprived of office (president of the club and vice-minister)" wrote Prime Minister Donald Tusk on the X portal.
It wasn't just a vote. Mr Grabczuk in the infirmary is justified. Members of Giertych and Sługocki will be suspended in the parliamentary club and deprived of office (president of the club and deputy minister).
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) July 12, 2024
Thus the Prime Minister reacted to the results of the vote on the Left's project, which was to remove punishment from the penal code for assisting in abortion. The draft was lost in the Sejm with only 3 votes – precisely as many KO Members did not vote.
Roman Giertych, unlike Krzysztof Grabczuk and Waldemar Sługocki, was present in the parliament hall, but decides to remove the ballot card. This decision announced earlier in its entry on the X platform.
Krzysztof Grabczuk did not participate in the vote in the Sejm due to illness, he was hospitalized at the time. Waldemar Sługocki, Deputy Minister of Development, as previously announced, was on a business journey in the US.
Responsibility for abortion
That's double bad news for Tusk. First, all work for abortion falls on him due to the fact that he failed to fulfill his promise. His voters awaiting legalization of abortion may resent the rulings due to the fact that Tusk could not mobilize his own party. Worse still, it will now be harder to make abortion the subject of next year's presidential election. Since the problem is in the Sejm and not in the President, it will be hard to convince voters that the candidate of the ruling coalition will handle this matter.
Poland 2050 Szymon Hołownia voted the same way as the Civic Coalition, showing no differences between them and the Left. In turn, 24 PSL MPs who voted against the bill showed that they were a conservative anchor of the coalition. For conservative voters who hatred PiS, PSL has become an attractive alternative.
It is clear that matters of conscience and individual freedom should stay outside the sphere of imposing organization discipline. all man has the right to his own beliefs and worldview choices that should be respected.
Will Tusk forgive Gierty?
Gierty was the only 1 who risked his political career to be faithful to his beliefs. The majority of KO Members supported the bill in accordance with the discipline introduced by Tusk. The PSL was divided and the PiS and Confederacy were against from the beginning. Only Gierty had the courage to break out, pulled out the card and did not vote.
Ladies and gentlemen!
I accept the punishment imposed on me by PDT with humility, but I would ask you to read my explanation. As a suspended associate of the KO, I so suspend my own decision not to talk about abortion.
A task by Mrs Anna Maria...
— Roman Giertych (@GiertychRoman) July 12, 2024
His decision was met with immediate consequences, and the future of his career in the KO was called into question. Tusk, who promised him a seat on the ballot despite opposition from the left and liberals, now has to face the anger of the electorate. Giertych, crucial to KO as the 1 who accounts for PiS, is now the object of anger. So, alternatively of condemning, possibly Gierty deserves respect for his faithfulness to his beliefs.
Left announces re-submission of the bill rejected
The Left Members informed that at the next session of the Sejm they would again submit a draft amendment to the Criminal Code concerning the decriminalisation of abortion assistance: "We will submit it to effect," said left club president Anna Maria Żukowska.
Priority needs: Energy and fuel prices require government attention
In the face of rising electricity prices, the Sejm and Prime Minister Donald Tusk should focus on more urgent issues. Current prices have increased drastically in fresh years, are expected to scope PLN 500 for 1 MWh for households in the second half of 2024. The increase in energy prices besides affects inflation and the cost of surviving of Poles, which is an additional challenge for the government.
Additionally, fuel prices besides went up. The excise work on motor gasoline is now PLN 1,529 per 1000 litres and PLN 1,160 per 1000 litres for diesel. These increases have a direct impact on transport costs and the prices of goods, charging home budgets.
In the face of these challenges, the government should focus on solutions that will bring real benefits to citizens alternatively of focusing on controversial issues specified as abortion liberalisation. Improving infrastructure, reforming the pension system, and investing in wellness care and good education should be priorities to improve the quality of life of Poles.
JB
