Polish President Andrzej Duda on Friday vetoed a law that would allow girls and women over the age of 15 to buy the morning-after pill over-the-counter, his office announced. Duda is concerned about the health of minors and is listening to parents, he said.
The president sent the law back to Congress, but was open to discussion on free access to hormonal contraceptives for people over 18, according to a statement from Duda’s office.
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He said there was no convincing argument in the public debate to justify free access to the pill for girls under 18.
Polish President Andrzej Duda spoke at a press conference in Konstantin Jeziorna, Poland, on Thursday, June 2. (AP/Michal Deijuk)
Parliament approved the law last month, but it needed Duda’s approval to take effect. The new pro-European Union government intended the law to be a step toward liberalizing Poland’s reproductive regulations, some of the most restrictive in Europe. These were inherited from the previous conservative government, whose decisions were approved by Duda. These restrictive decisions sparked massive street protests.
Mr. Duda’s veto means that Erawan, a drug that prevents pregnancy but is not an abortion pill, will continue to be available only by prescription.
In response, Health Minister Isabella Leszczina said that under Plan B, a directive will be issued to allow pharmacists to issue the necessary prescriptions. The plan will be submitted for public discussion before implementation.
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In predominantly Roman Catholic Poland, abortion is legal only if the pregnancy threatens the woman’s health or life, or if it is the result of rape. This strict law had a chilling effect on Polish doctors and led to the deaths of many women from difficult pregnancies.
