A bill that would slightly liberalise Poland’s strict law against abortion has been submitted by the Third Way party, the more conservative wing of the coalition Government.

The group wants to restore abortion in cases where an ultimately terminal condition is diagnosed in the foetus. Such abortions were banned by a court decision during the former conservative Law and Justice (PiS) administration.

Currently, abortions can only be performed if a pregnancy threatens the life or health of the mother, strictly understood, or in cases of rape. In practice, this results in very few terminations.

The other two parties of the ruling coalition have submitted their own bills that would legalise abortion on request up to the 12th week of pregnancy.

As there is no consensus, the Third Way wants to organise a referendum to ask the public for their view.

However, another Govt partner, The Left, has criticised the idea of a referendum, arguing that access to abortion is a ‘human right’ and as such should not be put on a ballot.

One of its MPs, Katarzyna Kotula, said the proposal is not a liberalisation, and would continue a “near-total ban on abortion.”