Abortion law protests blamed for spread
WARSAW: Poland’s ruling party leader accused opposition politicians of having “blood on their hands” for supporting protests the government blames for helping spread Covid19, as police kept demonstrators against an abortion ruling away from parliament.
Protesters had planned to blockade parliament as part of demonstrations against a top court ruling that amounted to a neartotal ban on abortion.
“All the demonstrations you supported have cost the lives of many people — you have blood on your hands,” Law and Justice (PiS) party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski told opposition lawmakers in the parliament.
PiS has blamed the protests for spreading Covid19.
Police kept protesters away from the building and local media reported that scuffles broke out in the city centre. Television footage showed a line of riot police blocking the route of protesters.
“Due to the aggression directed against police officers, direct coercion measures were used in the form of gas,” Warsaw police said on Twitter.
While centred on abortion, the protests have produced a broader outpouring of anger at Poland’s nationalist rulers and their allies in the Catholic church, the latest manifestation of a battle between liberals and religious conservatives.