Diveto President Poland, Bill On Pregnancy Prevention Pills Could Continue

Polish President Andrzej Duda (ANTARA/Anadolu)

JAKARTA - The amendment to the Polish pharmaceutical law that regulates the availability of unprescripted pregnancy prevention pills for those over 15 years of age, has finally been vetoed by the President of Poland.

"The president listens to the voices of parents received in various correspondences. The president clearly believes the need to protect the rights and constitutional standards of health services for children," said Malgorzata Presidential Minister Paprocka, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, March 30.

The president's veto rights could be canceled by three-fifths of the majority of lawmakers in the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, meaning the ruling coalition will not be able to gain support.

Poland's far-right Legal and Justice Party (PiS), which enacted one of Europe's strictest abortion laws, is no longer in office in October and the new governing coalition is divided due to changes to the law.

Parliamentary spokesman Szymon Holownia, leader of Polska 2050, a Democratic Christian party and one of the three parties in the ruling coalition, has postponed the parliamentary vote on abortion.

Two other parties, the New Left Party and Civil Platform (PO) led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, have made abortion as requested until 12 weeks of pregnancy a priority.

The president's decision, although not surprising, generated a wave of comments.

"The pregnancy prevention policy will be available, regardless of the president's opinion on the matter, which based his decision on death and not on medical knowledge," said Minister of Equality Katarzyna Kotula.

"Turkey, Serbia, Hungary. And Poland. Based on the decision of the duda," wrote Civil Coalition lawmaker Krzysztof Brejza, adding that these countries have the strictest access to pregnancy prevention pills in Europe.

Takhayul and conservative ideologies have defeated women's science and rights," wrote Deputy Culture Minister Joanna Scheuring-Weelgus.

"Fortunately, these are the last months of the presidency of Andrzej Duda," he added.

The second and final term of office of the Widower will be completed in 2025.