Economist Podcasts Poles’ position: an abortion-law backlash
Nov 3, 2020
Annabelle Chapman, a Warsaw-based correspondent, delves into the fierce protests in Poland over restrictive abortion laws, spotlighting the disconnect between government and public sentiment. John Fassman, the Washington correspondent, analyzes the unpredictable landscape of the U.S. elections, emphasizing economic surprises and potential legal disputes on Election Day. The conversation also touches on the intriguing history of films in the White House and their political significance, blending cultural insights with pressing global issues.
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Polish Abortion Law Backlash
- Poland's new abortion law bans terminations except when the mother's life is at risk or in cases of rape or incest.
- This has ignited widespread protests, revealing a disconnect between public opinion and the ruling party's agenda.
Youth-Led Protests
- Young women are central to the protests, creating homemade signs and expressing anger through graffiti and street art.
- The red lightning bolt has become a symbol of the protests, appearing throughout Warsaw.
Impact on Legal Abortions
- The new law, a ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal, removes the option for abortion in cases of fetal defects.
- This eliminates the basis for almost all of the roughly 1,000 legal abortions performed annually in Poland.