No Change On Abortion Law (Poland)

Polish President Lech Kaczynski has said that he opposes a proposed change to the country’s constitution that would defend the life of an unborn child.

“It is not the right time for a change,” Kaczynski declared, saying that he supports the current laws, allowing abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or a danger to the mother’s life. That law, he said, represents a prudent compromise to end the internal struggles over abortion that divided Poland a decade ago.

Maria Kaczynska, the president’s wife had drawn criticism from pro-life supporters of the government the previous day, when she signed an appeal organized by journalists opposing the constitutional change.

“The current laws adequately defend life. Nothing else is necessary,” argued Maria Kaczynska. She added that Poland’s parliament has more important problems to solve.

The debate over the constitutional amendment now threatens to split the Polish governing coalition.

Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, the outspoken director of Radio Maryja, an influential broadcaster that was credited with playing a major influence in bringing the Kaczynski coalition to power last year, roundly denounced President Kaczynski for his opposition to the amendment.

Roman Giertych, the deputy prime minister, generated enormous publicity and widespread outrage last week when he said that European governments should ban abortion.

Giertych later met with Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the president’s twin brother, amid speculation that he would be asked to resign his cabinet post.

But Giertych was not asked to resign, and told reporters that the prime minister had not told him to back away from his public statement.

In fact, a Polish newspaper had reported that Prime Minister Kaczynski privately voiced his support for the constitutional amendment.

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