Polish parliament rejects bill to decriminalize assisting an abortion

Poland's parliament has narrowly rejected a proposal to liberalize the country's very strict abortion law by decriminalizing assisting an abortion.

The bill was voted was defeated in parliament by a vote of 218 against and 215 in favour.

Among those who rejected the bill were lawmakers from the Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition.

The vote is a setback for Tusk, who had promised to strengthen women's rights during the election campaign, and reveals deep divisions within his coalition over the issue of abortion.

Abortion law in Poland is currently among the strictest in Europe. Abortion is only permitted after rape, incest or if the life of the pregnant woman is in danger.

If the unborn child has severe deformities, women are not allowed to have an abortion.

Abortion itself is not punishable by law, but abetting an abortion is punishable by up to three years in prison, a penalty that can also be applied to husbands, partners or relatives who provide a pregnant woman with abortion pills.

The proposal to make abortion free of punishment in future came from the left-wing The Left alliance, which is part of Tusk's coalition government.

However, another coalition partner split against the vote, with lawmakers from the Christian conservative Third Way, including Defence Minister Wladyslaw Koszyniak-Kamysz, voting against the change.

Two members of Tusk's own party, the liberal-conservative Civic Coalition, abstained from the vote.

The women's organization Federa described the vote as a "slap in the face" of every woman.

"Doctors will continue to be able to hide behind the fear of making themselves liable to prosecution if they help their patients. Families and friends will continue to risk their freedom if they help their loved ones," the group said in a statement.