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| Polish MPs pave way for bill to ban abortion | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Polish MPs have paved the way for a citizens' bill that would ban abortion. | |
| The "Stop Abortion" campaign now has approval to collect the 100,000 signatures needed to submit a bill to MPs. It has three months to do so. | The "Stop Abortion" campaign now has approval to collect the 100,000 signatures needed to submit a bill to MPs. It has three months to do so. |
| The ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) has a parliamentary majority and promotes traditional Catholic values. | The ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) has a parliamentary majority and promotes traditional Catholic values. |
| Currently abortions are only allowed in Poland in cases of rape or incest, if the mother's life is in danger, or if the foetus has medical problems. | Currently abortions are only allowed in Poland in cases of rape or incest, if the mother's life is in danger, or if the foetus has medical problems. |
| PiS enjoys the support of many Polish Catholic bishops, and its leader, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, believes most of his party would vote for the bill. | PiS enjoys the support of many Polish Catholic bishops, and its leader, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, believes most of his party would vote for the bill. |
| According to the Polish Health Ministry, there were 977 legal abortions in 2014. Before the fall of communism in 1989 abortion was legal. | According to the Polish Health Ministry, there were 977 legal abortions in 2014. Before the fall of communism in 1989 abortion was legal. |
| The citizens' bill proposes up to five years in prison for anyone who knowingly causes the death of an unborn child. | The citizens' bill proposes up to five years in prison for anyone who knowingly causes the death of an unborn child. |
| It stipulates that punishment for doctors and mothers can be waived in some cases, such as when the procedure was performed to save the mother's life. | It stipulates that punishment for doctors and mothers can be waived in some cases, such as when the procedure was performed to save the mother's life. |
| The current law was adopted in 1993 after a very heated debate in parliament and the compromise has largely held since, with no governing party willing to tackle the issue. | |
| With PiS in office there may room for change, such as tightening the law to outlaw abortions when the foetus has medical complications. | With PiS in office there may room for change, such as tightening the law to outlaw abortions when the foetus has medical complications. |
| A recent opinion poll by CBOS suggests Poles are becoming less liberal on the issue. In 1992, 88% approved of abortions when the mother's life was threatened. By 2016, it had fallen to 80%. In cases of rape/incest approval fell from 80% to 73%, whereas in cases where the child would be born handicapped, it fell from 71% to 53%. | A recent opinion poll by CBOS suggests Poles are becoming less liberal on the issue. In 1992, 88% approved of abortions when the mother's life was threatened. By 2016, it had fallen to 80%. In cases of rape/incest approval fell from 80% to 73%, whereas in cases where the child would be born handicapped, it fell from 71% to 53%. |