Poland’s parliament votes to ease abortion ban but faces likely veto from president

What happened: Poland's lower house of parliament approved two bills aimed at loosening the country's near-total abortion ban, removing some criminal penalties for those helping women access abortion care and allowing terminations in cases of foetal abnormalities. Why it matters: The measures are likely to be vetoed by Poland's nationalist president, and campaigners described them as a "small-scale step" ahead of protests calling on the government to fulfil its promises to overhaul the country's laws.

Poland's lower house of parliament approved two bills aimed at loosening the country's near-total abortion ban, removing some criminal penalties for those helping women access abortion care and allowing terminations in cases of foetal abnormalities.

The measures are likely to be vetoed by Poland's nationalist president, and campaigners described them as a "small-scale step" ahead of protests calling on the government to fulfil its promises to overhaul the country's laws.