New government to make changing the abortion law its second priority

The left-wing alliance that won Sunday's general election announced plans yesterday to ease the country's strict anti-abortion law. "We believe abortions should be allowed when the woman faces hardship," said Marek Pol, leader of the Labor Union (UP), the smaller ally of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). Speaking at a news conference, Pol said that the legislation would be a second priority for the new government, after a rescue program for public finances, which could take several months to implement, and speeding up European Union (EU) membership talks. The existing law allows abortion only in cases of irreparable damage to the fetus, serious danger to the woman's health, or when pregnancy results from rape. Women's rights groups have argued that the law has created a gynecological underground and forced many women to seek abortions abroad or use methods dangerous to their health or life. (Reuters)