Polish parliament rejects bill for 12-week abortion licence

The Polish Parliament has rejected a bill that would have allowed abortion on demand for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

While the measure was supported by two parties of the governing coalition, the third joined with the opposition to vote against it.

Even some members of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s own party abstained from the vote and have now been censured.

The vote tally was 215 in favour, 218 against, 2 abstentions, and 23 absentees.

Earlier this week, President Andrzej Duda, a conservative ally of the opposition PiS party, had declared that he would veto the bill even if it was passed by parliament.