Poland’s President to Veto 2 Controversial Bills on Judiciary

Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said her government wouldn’t “submit to pressure” to back off and Mr Duda’s rejection of the laws had only slowed down changes she insists are necessary to what she says is an unaccountable judiciary.

The bill Duda did sign reorganizes Poland’s local judiciary.

Anna Materska, a political scientist at the University of Warsaw, said Duda’s decision to distance himself from a flagship PiS policy after previously appearing closely aligned to the party could mark a political watershed.

The European Commission had threatened to impose sanctions this week if the changes were not scrapped.

The decision was praised as “difficult and courageous” by Lech Walesa, the former president and an icon of Polish democracy.

Under the law, all current Supreme Court justices – there are over 80 – would have been required to resign. It was shortly after midnight and, in front of the group, the upper house was voting on the Supreme Court reform amid calls from demonstrators urging the senators to kill the bill.

It added that it was disappointed with President Duda’s veto, who last week stepped in to find a compromise.

The public outcry over the plans had been partly overshadowed by recent high-profile visits to Poland by US President Donald Trump and the British royals.

Media captionCrowds chanted “constitution, constitution” during a candlelit protest in Warsaw on SundayWhy did president step in?

Duda undermined the huge powers over deciding on Supreme Court’ judges appointment and the Court’s internal regulations given to the prosecutor general. “These laws must be amended”.

Mr Duda’s spokesman said the president would sign into law a third bill that gives the justice minister powers to hire and fire district and appeals court judges. PiS legislator Jacek Sasin said he was surprised by Duda’s move.

The outgoing president of its highest constitutional court warned late a year ago that Poland is “on the road to autocracy”.

Before they can become law, they require approval by the president.

Opposition MPs also praised the role of protesters in influencing the decision.

This is a big victory for the thousands of people who have taken to the streets across Poland daily for over a week in protest of the bill.

What’s wrong with the reforms?

He reiterated the need “to reform, but good reform” of the judicial system and indicated that they have conducted very extensive consultations with lawyers in the course of the weekend.

The three reforms would give the justice minister and MPs much broader powers and have alarmed the United States and EU. The ruling Law and Justice Party only has a thin majority in parliament, and it’s unlikely that it could get enough support.

“I feel that the reform in this shape will not increase the sense of security and justice”, Duda said at a news conference before meetings with leaders of the Supreme Court and the National Council of the Judiciary.

Today’s Polish judiciary has uncontrolled remnants of communism.

The speed at which the party pushed the legislation through parliament was another subject of suspicion and criticism.

Still, the Law and Justice party was defiant, pressing ahead under the leadership of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who wields vast power from his perch in Parliament.