A long-awaited parliamentary discussion on Poland’s restrictive abortion laws is likely to see heated debate. Premier Donald Tusk has promised liberalization, but conservatives in his coalition could block progress.

Poland’s abortion law, one of the strictest in the European Union, will be discussed by the country’s parliament on Thursday.

The three coalition partners that make up the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk have submitted several bills for discussion amid wide divisions on the issue.

Under a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Court, abortion is permissible after rape or incest or in cases when the pregnant woman’s life is in danger, but illegal even if a fetus is severely abnormal.

Tusk has promised to liberalize the law, which was established by the previous conservative nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party government. The anti-abortion law has strong support of the Catholic Church, which retains a powerful influence in the country.

Many had hoped that the debate would be held earlier, but conservatives in Tusk’s three-party governing coalition wanted it delayed until last weekend’s local elections were over.