Polish Parliament passes law on health protection in epidemic and afterwards
On Friday, the Sejm (the lower chamber of Polish Parliament) passed the law on health protection in the epidemic and after it ceases. MEPs said for compensation in connection with the organization of postal elections and for a change in the functioning of the National Health Fund.
The Sejm did not accept the request of the Civic Coalition to reject the bill in its entirety. It was reported on Thursday during the second reading at the Health Committee. 19 members of the commission supported it then, and 17 were against. As a result, the 29 amendments put forward in the second reading were not considered at its meeting. They were voted on at the Friday plenary session. All amendments proposed by PiS gained approval.
230 MPs voted for the bill on Friday, 220 against, none abstained.
Among the 29 amendments approved by the Sejm on Friday, there was one that aroused much controversy. It concerned the granting of a one-off compensation to entities which, in connection with counteracting Covid-19, implemented the prime minister's order related directly to hold presidential elections, which allowed for the possibility of voting by correspondence.
(PAP)
