Polish lawmakers vote to ease abortion ban, but a presidential veto is expected

Summary

Poland's lower house of parliament voted on October 20 to approve two bills that would allow abortion in cases of foetal abnormalities and decriminalise helping someone obtain an abortion. The bills, backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's governing coalition, aim to reverse a near-total abortion ban introduced by the previous government. President Karol Nawrocki is expected to veto them. Politico reports he is aligned with the party that triggered mass protests over an abortion clampdown five years ago. According to The Guardian, the measures would remove some criminal penalties for those who help women access abortion care, and campaigners describe them as a 'small-scale step' ahead of protests calling on the government to fulfil its promises to overhaul the laws.

Timeline

1. Straits Times

   20 Oct 2026, 17:56 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Poland's lower house voted on Tuesday to allow abortion in cases of foetal abnormalities and to decriminalise providing help in getting an abortion, and that the bills face a likely presidential veto.

2. Le Monde

   20 Oct 2026, 18:51 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that two bills to liberalise abortion laws, backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk's governing coalition, were voted through on October 20, though President Karol Nawrocki is expected to veto them.

3. Politico

   20 Oct 2026, 20:25 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that the government voted to ease abortion laws in a challenge to conservative President Karol Nawrocki, who could veto the bills and is aligned with the party that triggered mass protests over its abortion clampdown five years ago.

4. The Guardian

   21 Oct 2026, 15:01 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that the lower house approved two bills loosening the near-total ban, which would remove some criminal penalties for those who help women access abortion care and allow terminations in cases of foetal abnormalities, a step campaigners call small-scale ahead of protests.