The first of the abortion bills failed in the Sejm. The Minister for Equality, Katarzyna Kotula, said in “Fakty po Faktach” that now we need to “measure our strength against our intentions and know what is possible and what is not”. – Today I also reached for the coalition agreement, because some politicians within the coalition on October 15 are hiding behind this agreement, and it is clearly written there that women have the right to decide – she added.
On July 12, the Sejm did not pass an amendment to the Penal Code that would have decriminalized assistance in abortion and termination of pregnancy with the consent of the pregnant woman up to the 12th week of pregnancy. The bill was rejected by votes PISConfederation, majority PSL. Three KO MPs did not vote: Roman GiertychWaldemar Sługocki and Krzysztof Grabczuk.
The lack of agreement among the coalition partners was commented on in “Fakty po Faktach” Catherine KotulaMinister for Equality (Left).
Read more: The first of the abortion bills failed. Who was for, who was against?
Kotula appreciated female politicians who “have been involved in defending women's rights for years”, but admitted that “however, this decision-making is somewhere at the level of men – those who today exchange views on whether they are more or less conservative”.
Catherine Kotula TVN24
– This is an issue that concerns not only women, but also, above all, supporting men who were with us on the streets in 2016 and 2020, protested with us, defended our rights, loudly demanded respect for women's rights and also expressed their position on this matter – said the minister.
Kotula: We need to approach the abortion issue sensibly
– What we need to do today is to approach the issue of abortion very substantively, very sensibly, that is, to weigh our strength against our intentions, of course, and know what is possible and what is not possible – she added.
The guest of “Fakty po Faktach” said that talks on this matter were held with the Prime Minister Donald Tusk. – It is obvious that at the level of the Minister of Justice, Minister of Health, certain changes can be introduced by regulations or guidelines, they are important – she said.
She also said that she does not understand why some politicians explain that they will not support the bills because it was not included in the coalition agreement. – Today I reached for the coalition agreement, because some politicians within the coalition on October 15 are hiding behind this agreement, and it is clearly written there that women have the right to decide. After all, it is not about deciding in the kitchen – said Katarzyna Kotula.
– We emphasized in this coalition agreement that these would be important issues for us, because we were aware that thanks to women we also won these elections. elections. We all made such promises, she added.
Main image source: TVN24