- Title: Poland's parliament rejects plans for near-total abortion ban
- Date: 6th October 2016
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (OCTOBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) INTERIOR PARLIAMENT GOVERNMENT MEMBERS ENTERING PARLIAMENT SESSION CRUCIFIX ON WALL ABOVE CHAMBER PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ANNOUNCING VOTE ON BILL BANNING ABORTION RULING LAW AND JUSTICE PARTY (PIS) MEMBERS VOTING LAW AND JUSTICE LEADER, JAROSLAW KACZYNSKI, VOTING GOVERNMENT MEMBERS VOTING KACZYNSKI APPROACHING PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) LAW AND JUSTICE PARTY LEADER, JAROSLAW KACZYNSKI, SAYING: "I assure the high chamber that Law and Justice is and will continue to support protection of life and will take appropriate steps in this direction." OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (APPLAUDING DIFFERENT SPEAKER THAN KACZYNSKI) POLISH PRIME MINISTER, BEATA SZYDLO, APPROACHING PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PRIME MINISTER, BEATA SZYDLO, SAYING: "By the end of the year we will prepare a program, which will be presented before the high chamber, for supporting families and mothers who decide to give birth children from so-called difficult pregnancies." PIS MEMBERS APPLAUDING KACZYNSKI LISTENING SZYDLO LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) MEMBER OF OPPOSITION CIVIC PLATFORM PARTY, JOANNA MUCHA, SAYING: "There always were supporters of abortion in Poland, but I guarantee you it has more supporters today, because of you. I guarantee you that somebody will try to liberalize abortion laws during the next term (of parliament), because of you. It is your fault and your responsibility." WARSAW, POLAND (OCTOBER 3, 2016) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATION AGAINST ABORTION BAN IN OLD TOWN SQUARE VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS WITH BANNERS DEMONSTRATORS IN STREET BANNER, READING (Polish) "WE WANT TO GIVE BIRTH SAFELY" DEMONSTRATION ALONG STREET
- Embargoed: 21st October 2016 12:15
- Keywords: Poland abortion protests ban parliament
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00152V9ZRB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Polish lawmakers on Thursday (October 6) rejected plans for a near-total ban on abortion, in a hastily arranged vote that marks the first major domestic setback for the ruling conservatives and follows street protests by tens of thousands of women.
The ruling Law and Justice party (PIS) unexpectedly withdrew its support for draft proposals drawn up by an independent anti-abortion campaign group, in an unscheduled parliamentary committee meeting late on Wednesday.
"Law and Justice is and will continue to support protection of life and will take appropriate steps in this direction," party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski told parliament.
Up to 100,000 women dressed in black joined protest rallies across Poland on Monday against the plans to tighten the country's already restrictive abortion rules.
Worryingly for PiS, a socially conservative, eurosceptic party which swept to power last October with pledges to help poorer Poles and to boost the state's role in the economy, some of the women protesters had previously voted for the party.
Under the rejected plans, abortion would have been allowed only in the event of a direct danger to the mother's life, but no longer - as at present - in cases of rape, incest or serious health issues for the mother or when the baby is likely to be permanently handicapped. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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