Demonstration against abortion in Poland -

Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS / SIPA

The Polish conservative government announced on Wednesday that the Constitutional Court's ruling virtually banning abortion would come into force after its publication the same day in the Official Gazette, angering women's rights movements and the opposition.

“The Constitutional Court presented a written justification for the judgment on the protection of life.

In accordance with constitutional requirements, the judgment will be published today in the Official Gazette, ”the Government Information Center said on Twitter.

Massive but ineffective protests

The Constitutional Court, reformed by the conservatives in power, in October outlawed the voluntary termination of pregnancy in the event of a serious malformation of the fetus, ruling that it is "incompatible" with the Constitution, which results in the prohibition of any Abortion except in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is in danger.

Since the announcement of the court ruling, reformed by the ultra-Catholic Law and Justice (PiS) party, in power, and complying with its wishes on October 22, massive protests have continued across Poland against this measure. .

The government suspended the publication of the judgment, following these protests which took place in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The "Polish-Polish" war

Demonstrations were announced this Wednesday evening in front of the seat of the Constitutional Court in Warsaw, as well as in several cities of the country.

“We urge everyone to take to the streets.

(…) Express your anger as you see fit, ”Marta Lempart told the press on Wednesday of the“ Women's Strike ”, the main movement behind the protests.

“The whole of Poland is mobilizing, not just Warsaw, we are ready!

When we talk about the hell of women, now we can talk about the hell of the government.

We're going to cook you hell, ”added Klementyna Suchanow, also of the Women's Strike.

The president of PiS "Jaroslaw Kaczynski is responsible for the outbreak of the Polish-Polish war", declared for his part Borys Budka, head of the Civic Platform (liberal center, opposition), "no law-abiding government will respect this pseudo-decision ”.

Extremely restrictive law

According to him, the publication of the judgment is "a provocation" and an attempt by the government "to hide its incompetence" in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and "the failure of the vaccination program" (…) While “playing with the health and life of Polish women”.

Poland, a predominantly Catholic country, has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe.

Today, there are less than 2,000 legal abortions per year in Poland, according to official data.

Feminist organizations also estimate that around 200,000 abortions are performed illegally or abroad each year.

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