Poland's Tusk Admits Abortion Law Reform Unlikely

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has conceded that there is no parliamentary majority to support changes to Poland's restrictive abortion laws, which are among the most stringent in Europe. Since taking office in December, Tusk's coalition, which includes both liberal and conservative factions, has found it challenging to reach a consensus on abortion reform. Despite campaign promises to allow abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy, Tusk stated, 'There will be no majority in this parliament for legal abortion, in the full sense of the word, until the next elections.' Instead, his government plans to enhance existing processes within the prosecutor's office and hospitals to alleviate some practical restrictions on accessing legal abortions. The current law permits abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or threats to the woman’s life or health, following the removal of rights for fetal deformities under prior governance, which ignited widespread protests. As Poland grapples with deep societal divisions on this issue, Tusk's government faces pressure to navigate these complex dynamics amidst growing secularization in the predominantly Catholic nation.