The most conservative party in Poland's government coalition, the Polish People's Party, voted with the right-wing opposition led by the Law and Justice party when it was decided to amend the abortion law.
The amendment would have decriminalized anyone who assists in an abortion, whether through surgery or by administering abortion pills.
Currently, anyone who does so can be sentenced to up to three years in prison.
The result of the vote is a major blow to Donald Tusk,
Tusk, who took office as prime minister in December last year at the head of a rainbow coalition that ranges from centre-right to left, promised to ease some of Europe’s strictest abortion laws, which sparked widespread protests across Poland when it was passed in 2020.
In Friday's vote, 218 MPs voted against the softening, while 215 voted against. Two abstained, while four Socialist People's Party MPs broke with the party line and said yes to the amendment.
The League Party promised the boy who submitted the amendment. Another attempt to ease abortion laws will soon be made..
Even if the law is passed, the head of state, who is supported by the Law and Justice Party, Andrzej Duda He promised to veto it. Duda's term ends next year.
Cover image is an illustration. Cover image source: Getty Images
