Donald Tusk’s coalition moves to overturn Poland’s near-total abortion ban

Poland’s ruling coalition has taken the first steps towards repealing the previous government’s abortion ban. In 2020, Poland’s Law and Justice party (PiS) banned virtually all abortions, dragging the country even further from EU norms on abortion law. It was a decision that may have cost PiS the election as analysts say the current centrist coalition rode into power last year partly on a backlash from young and female voters. On Friday, four bills which would overturn the ban were put in front of Poland’s lower house and approved for further legislative work and discussion. Their passage wouldn’t have been possible without Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s broad-based coalition – but there is likely to be further heated debate on the extent to which abortion should be legalised.