Donald Tusk on civil partnerships: "End of discussion, time to decide"
Donald Tusk has announced groundbreaking changes, including the introduction of civil partnerships and the decriminalisation of abortion as government projects. "We are ending the discussion; it's time to decide," declared the Prime Minister, despite resistance from some politicians and strong opposition from President Andrzej Duda.
In a post on social media, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the civil partnerships project will be treated as a government project. "We are ending the discussion; itâs time to decide," he announced decisively, signalling the end of debates and the start of the decision-making process.
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Tusk also added that the government would vote for civil partnerships as a government project and the decriminalisation of abortion. However, he admitted that he had not been able to convince all politicians to do so.
"We will vote for the decriminalisation of abortion. We will vote for civil partnerships as a government project, although I have not managed to convince everyone," Tusk declared.
Breakthrough on civil partnerships. Draft law in progress
In light of these announcements, it is noteworthy that the government published a draft law on registered partnerships in Poland on Monday. This draft proposes that two adults, regardless of gender, will be able to enter into a civil partnership. The new legislation aims to address issues related to tax, inheritance, and healthcare, among others. The Council of Ministers is expected to adopt the law in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The Minister for Equality, Katarzyna Kotula, expressed her enthusiasm on X, writing, "I like Mondays!" She highlighted that the draft law on civil partnerships reached the government's agenda after "months of meetings, negotiations, and work by an expert team."
Kotula elaborated, "What does this mean? The project has entered the government's work list. This is the next step, with inter-ministerial arrangements and public consultations ahead. Each further step brings us closer to a Poland that will be friendlier, safer, and more open for everyoneâthe Poland we promised you."
The bill seeks to regulate the rules for entering and terminating registered partnerships, the rights and obligations of those in such partnerships, and the matrimonial regime. It specifies that a registered partnership will affect a person's marital status, requiring a declaration of no obstacles to its conclusion before the head of the civil registry office.
"The head of the civil registry office assesses the capacity to conclude the partnership and makes an entry in the register of civil partnerships," the draft states. The government's briefing noted that the draft includes regulations on joint property, specifying that upon entering into a registered partnership, the individuals are subject to a regime of separation of property.
The president's stance on the depenalisation of abortion
This week, the Sejm is set to consider a bill that proposes the decriminalisation and depenalisation of abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy. MPs will discuss this bill at the next Sejm session, focusing on the partial decriminalisation of acts related to the termination of pregnancy. The bill aims to completely decriminalise abortion up to the 12th week with the woman's consent and to decriminalise abortion with the woman's consent in cases of severe, irreversible disability or incurable fetal disease.
However, when asked by TVN24 whether he would sign such a law, President Andrzej Duda responded emphatically: "No." This brief but firm response from the president indicates that he may exercise his veto power against the bill.
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