Poland - January 2024

On 9 January, two opposition MPs, the former interior minister and former deputy interior minister, were arrested and stripped of their parliamentary mandates and immunity. In December, the men had been sentenced to two years’ jail for abuse of power committed in 2007. In response, the two MPs took refuge in the Presidential Palace, which hindered the police. Previously, President Andrzej Duda had pardoned them, but the Supreme Court subsequently invalidated that pardon. The men were eventually arrested and went on a hunger strike, claiming to be political prisoners. The opposition Law and Justice party subsequently organized an anti-government protest, drawing tens of thousands of people. On 23 January, the men were released after President Duda issued a new pardon, but it remains unclear whether they should still be considered MPs, since the Constitution bars people with convictions from serving as MPs.

Source: Washington Times, Notes from Poland (1), Notes from Poland (2), Notes from Poland (3), RTE, Politico (1), BBC, X - Tusk, Politico (2) 

Prime Minister Tusk’s political alliance, the Civic Coalition (KO), has submitted a bill to the lower house of Parliament (the Sejm) to allow abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, and afterwards under specific circumstances such as when the mother’s life is at risk or if there are severe fetal defects. The current law in Poland states that abortion is banned in all situations except for if the mother’s life is at risk or the pregnancy is the result of a crime. The strict laws have caused healthcare workers to be extremely restrictive in performing abortions, often leaving pregnant women without adequate access to healthcare. Donald Tusk’s election platform had promised the liberalization of abortion laws within 100 days of him taking office. However, the issue is deeply divisive and there is disagreement even within the government coalition, where the Third Way (Trzecia Droga, TD) Alliance wants to present the matter to voters in a referendum.

Sources: The Sejm – bill, The Guardian, France 24, Notes from Poland (1), Notes from Poland (2), Euractiv