Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Piotr Zgorzelski (PSL-TD) emphasized the coalition’s stance on the bill concerning the decriminalization of abortion assistance, stating that no such projects were part of the coalition agreement. He reiterated that PSL MPs voted in line with the coalition framework and did not support any moves to legalize abortion through decriminalization measures in this parliamentary term.
Asked on Polsat News to respond to PSL President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who claimed that without PSL there would be no Sejm majority and no coalition as of October 15, Zgorzelski noted that the party chose a path that respected voters’ freedom. He added that PSL has an independent voice and would never act as anyone’s subordinate.
Kosiniak-Kamysz had said at a PSL Supreme Council gathering that Donald Tusk would become prime minister again and that the coalition existed because it reflected the voters and their choices. He stressed that PSL did not abandon its views, even while participating in the government accord.
We comply with the provisions of the coalition agreement.
Zgorzelski clarified that the coalition agreement did not contain proposals to decriminalize abortion. The party framed its response as a defense against criticisms directed at the Polish People’s Party over its position, which had expressed support for the abortion-decriminalization vote from different angles. He described PSL as a serious political actor that follows the coalition’s rules.
Senate Vice President Magdalena Biejat (left) reiterated that the left will keep pushing the decriminalization proposal until it achieves its aim.
Michał Szczerba, a Member of the European Parliament from the Civic Coalition, asserted that the current coalition would persist through its term, noting that it has nine months to solidify unity, address concerns, and tackle shared problems.
This topic will probably come back.
Małgorzata Paprocka, head of the Chancellery of the President of Poland, observed that coalition partners appear to be losing traction, a trend she linked to results from local and European elections. She highlighted that presidential campaign dynamics could influence coalition cohesion, warning that negative shifts in momentum could harm unity. Paprocka also touched on the abortion issue, suggesting that the topic is likely to re-emerge as the political calendar advances.
She stated that the president’s position on the matter remains clear and anticipated that the topic would return in public and parliamentary debate.
On July 12, the Sejm failed to adopt an amendment to the Criminal Code that would decriminalize assisted abortion and permit pregnancy termination with the pregnant woman’s consent up to the twelfth week. Opposition came from 218 MPs, including 24 from PSL-TD, among them Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Deputy Speaker Piotr Zgorzelski.
President Andrzej Duda remarked that, given current law, the Sejm’s decision not to pass the abortion-decriminalization measure was reasonable. He had previously said he would not sign the bill if it reached him in its present form. He also assured that women who choose to terminate would not face punishment, while participants in the process could be treated differently under the law. He underscored that abortion involves tragic human costs, but he framed the legal questions around accountability for those who participate illegally.
READ MORE:
— Great emotions in the studio! Małgorzata Paprocka directly to Michał Szczerba: Mr. MP, please don’t lecture me
— A heated discussion between Magdalena Biejat and Krzysztof Bosak. “Please be quiet and listen, you have lied for too long.”
— The MPs did not adopt the amendment to the Criminal Code. There will be no decriminalization of abortion care! Applause erupted in the Sejm hall
nt/PAP
Source: wPolityce