Shortly after a meeting with the prime minister, conservative voices in Finland accused the Finnish leader of aiming to harm Polish children for Finnish money. The claim was referenced by Krzysztof Śmiszek, a member of the Polish parliament from the New Left, in an interview with Radio Wrocław, a station associated with the left.
In parallel, Robert Biedroń raised the question of whether Polish women could receive free abortion services in Finland. It became apparent that no such agreement existed, and Finland’s side later stated that there were no commitments to provide free abortions.
One notable factor stands out. Finland is in the final stretch of its parliamentary electoral campaign, with elections only a week away. By Finnish norms, the campaign is unusually vigorous. Finns are widely perceived as orderly and tranquil, yet political passions can surge under campaign pressures, notes Krzysztof Śmiszek.
Śmiszek also highlights social media claims by Robert Biedroń, noting that discussions about free abortion for Polish women in Finland were mentioned in a meeting with Prime Minister Marin. He contends that the New Left and Finland’s Social Democratic Party have begun debating policy specifics, while the Finnish right is accused of obstructing abortion policy. He maintains that the remarks recounted accurately reflect the events of the meeting. He adds that immediately after the meeting, the Finnish right publicized the assertion that the prime minister faced accusations of wanting to kill Polish children for Finnish money, a sign, in his view, of the level of political rhetoric confronting leaders today. He believes the delegation, not acting on behalf of the state, would resume discussions after Finland’s elections brought the Social Democrats to power.
Śmiszek, a New Left parliamentarian, does not mask discomfort with such attacks. He calls them embarrassing and unfounded while stressing a readiness to continue dialogue once the electoral cycle ends.
He also characterizes as shameful the need for Polish actors to seek international support in other countries, such as Belgium, Spain, or Finland, to secure basic rights for Polish women. He points out that Polish citizens face fear and restrictions at home when it comes to abortion, with some women facing severe consequences due to doctors’ refusals. He criticizes the opposition for urging foreign governments to extend abortion access to Polish women abroad, citing a Belgian program that funded Polish women seeking abortions in Belgium as an example of a flawed approach.
Unreliable platform?
Asked about pledges from Donald Tusk and Civic Platform to pursue liberalized abortion laws in the next Sejm term, Śmiszek expresses skepticism. He invites voters to weigh the credibility of two proposals on the table: one from the Left and one from the Platform. The Left has a history of backing liberalization when in power, while the Platform has often avoided the issue. He urges voters to back the Left if they want these debates to move from talk to action, aiming for stable positions within a governing coalition and clear decisions, so promises translate into concrete policy rather than lingering ambiguity. This stance, in his view, amounts to a call for decisive political movement rather than symbolic statements.
– remarks Krzysztof Śmiszek.
Content reviewed has focused on contemporary political discourse surrounding abortion policy and party positions in Poland and Finland. The discussion underscores the sensitivity and polarization that can accompany debates on reproductive rights in multilingual, multinational contexts.