EU warns Poland over judicial reforms as thousands
protest
(Vatican Radio) The European Union's executive has warned
that the block is coming closer to imposing sanctions on Poland for the
government's attempt to take control over the judiciary. Wednesday's
announcement came just hours after Poland's president said he had proposed a
compromise over contentious court reforms, as thousands of people protested in
the capital Warsaw.
Several thousand Polish people, many with burning candles,
made clear they hope politicians will still see the light. They gathered
overnight in front of Warsaw's presidential palace in a peaceful protest
against controversial judicial reforms.
Inside, Polish President Andrzej Duda made clear that he
heard the voice of concerned crowds. He proposed a compromise over the disputed
court reforms.
Parliament recently approved a bill that critics say gives
the government and legislators the power to select members of a body that
nominate judges.
Opponents say the move would erode the independence of the
judiciary.
SIMPLE MAJORITY
Duda proposed that nominations to the body would need more
than a simple parliamentary majority. It would mean the governing right-wing
and populist Law and Justice Party (PiS) would require the support of at least
one other party to ensure its nominees are approved.
President Duda said that if the lower house did not support
his change to the legislation, he would not sign a separate controversial law
on changes to the supreme court.
The European Union closely follows the developments. The
EU's executive European Commission has threatened with sanctions against
Poland.
European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said
that the EU was closer to triggering Article 7 against Poland because its
recent steps toward the judiciary in his words "greatly amplify the threat
to the rule of law" and threatens to put the judiciary "under full
political control" of the government. "That's why we had a discussion
today in college, how to respond to this," he told reporters.
Timmermans stressed that a dialogue between the EU and
Poland should continue, but this is the latest in a series of clashes between
Poland and Brussels. European leaders have also expressed concern about
government efforts to control the media and other measures seen as undermining
the country's democratic credentials.
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