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Poland’s President Vetoes 2 Laws Limiting Courts’ Independence Poland’s President Vetoes 2 Laws Limiting Courts’ Independence
(about 1 hour later)
WARSAW — Poland’s president defied expectations on Monday and vetoed two proposed laws that would have placed the country’s courts more directly under the control of the right-wing governing party. WARSAW — Poland’s president defied expectations on Monday and vetoed two proposed laws that would have given the right-wing governing party direct control of the judiciary, in a move widely condemned as a violation of democratic norms.
Poles had taken to the streets by the tens of thousands over the past week to protest the laws and to call on the president, Andrzej Duda, to veto them.Poles had taken to the streets by the tens of thousands over the past week to protest the laws and to call on the president, Andrzej Duda, to veto them.
The European Union, which Poland joined in 2004, had warned Warsaw that adoption of the new laws — which the bloc’s officials said threatened the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law — would draw a sharp rebuke, including potential court action and legal sanctions.The European Union, which Poland joined in 2004, had warned Warsaw that adoption of the new laws — which the bloc’s officials said threatened the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law — would draw a sharp rebuke, including potential court action and legal sanctions.
“I feel that the reform in this shape will not increase the sense of security and justice,” Mr. Duda said at a midmorning news conference, just before scheduled meetings with leaders of the Supreme Court and the National Council of the Judiciary, both of which would have been dramatically restructured under the proposed laws.“I feel that the reform in this shape will not increase the sense of security and justice,” Mr. Duda said at a midmorning news conference, just before scheduled meetings with leaders of the Supreme Court and the National Council of the Judiciary, both of which would have been dramatically restructured under the proposed laws.
The laws will be sent back to Parliament, which is expected to write new bills that would meet President’s Duda’s approval. Parliament could also override the president’s veto, though that would require a supermajority of 60 percent — a threshold that the governing Law and Justice Party, which has only a thin majority, could not meet without the support of other parties. Later in the morning, President Duda said later in the morning that he would sign a third bill, which reorganizes Poland’s local courts, giving the justice minister the power to select the heads of each of the regional courts.
Previously, presiding judges held significant power because they could choose which judges hear which cases, but the new law would assign cases using a random lottery, government officials said, although exceptions will be made for cases deemed to be of special significance.
The two laws vetoed by the president — one would have forced the resignation of all Supreme Court justices, with their replacements to be selected by the justice minister, and the other would have restructured the council, which selects judicial candidates, to give government-appointed members effective veto power — will be sent back to Parliament which is expected to write new bills which would meet the president’s approval.
Parliament could also override the president’s veto, though that would require a supermajority of 60 percent — a threshold that the governing Law and Justice Party, which has only a thin majority, could not meet without the support of other parties.
What was unclear Monday was whether the Law and Justice Party would move the issue off the front burner, at least for the moment, or whether the veto exposed a rift between Mr. Duda and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the governing party and the most powerful political figure in the country.What was unclear Monday was whether the Law and Justice Party would move the issue off the front burner, at least for the moment, or whether the veto exposed a rift between Mr. Duda and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the governing party and the most powerful political figure in the country.
“Poland needs reform of the judiciary,” Mr. Duda said, “but I am a supporter of a wise reform.” Mr. Duda, 45, a former back bencher in the ruling party, was hand-picked by Mr. Kaczynski, 68, as the party’s presidential candidate, though he left the party to rule as an independent once assuming office. Since Law and Justice took power in late 2015, though, Mr. Duda has been a reliable backer of the government’s initiatives, making his Monday vetoes more surprising.
Mr. Duda vetoed two laws. One would have forced the resignation of the entire Supreme Court and allowed the minister of justice to appoint replacements. Top ruling party officials began gathering late morning in Mr. Kaczynski’s spare office in the party headquarters. “We’ll be thinking on what stand to take on this,” said Ryszard Terlecki, speaker of the Sejm, lower house of parliament.
The other would have reconfigured the National Council of the Judiciary so that government-appointed members have more power and a virtual veto over potential judicial appointments. Pawel Kukiz, a Polish pop star who formed his own political party and was seen as the likeliest faction to side with Law and Justice on the issue, indicated on Monday that he agreed with President Duda. “Thank you, Mr. President,” he posted on his Facebook page.
A third law, which was not vetoed, would restructure local courts and give the justice minister the power to appoint the presidents of the regional courts. This bill has gotten less attention than the others, though it does increase the powers of the government. Pawel Tyska, a member of Mr. Kukiz’ party, said the vetoes should spur “quick reform of the justice system.”
Opposition leaders welcomed the news of the vetoes, but warily, and said continued pressure on the government is needed.
“The situation is fresh,” said Andrzej Halicki, a member of parliament for Civic Platform, the leading opposition party. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Lech Walesa, the Nobel Peace Prize winning leader of the Solidarity movement that toppled communism a quarter century ago, said he was “positively surprised” by President Duda’s decision. Mr. Walesa has feuded with Mr. Kaczynski since the 1990s and has been frequently attacked by the current government.
“It was a hard and difficult decision, and a decision showing that Duda is beginning to feel like a president,” Mr. Walesa said.
But he called on protesters not to slacken their efforts.
“What’s comforting is that the nation is waking up, that the youth are waking up,” Mr. Walesa said. “Don’t stop protesting!”
President Trump visited Poland earlier this month and lavished praise on its government, without addressing the concerns of democracy advocates.President Trump visited Poland earlier this month and lavished praise on its government, without addressing the concerns of democracy advocates.
However, the State Department warned on Friday that “the Polish government has continued to pursue legislation that appears to undermine judicial independence and weaken the rule of law in Poland.” It added: “We urge all sides to ensure that any judicial reform does not violate Poland’s constitution or international legal obligations and respects the principles of judicial independence and separation of powers.”However, the State Department warned on Friday that “the Polish government has continued to pursue legislation that appears to undermine judicial independence and weaken the rule of law in Poland.” It added: “We urge all sides to ensure that any judicial reform does not violate Poland’s constitution or international legal obligations and respects the principles of judicial independence and separation of powers.”
Only about 200 people were gathered outside the presidential palace Monday morning, and they reacted jubilantly to the news of the vetoes. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Warsaw and across Poland over the last week, as the bills were debated and passed in parliament, though mostly gathering after dark for candle and flashlight rallies.
Katarzyna Lubnauer, a member of parliament for the opposition Modern party, said critics of the proposed bills are willing to work with the ruling party to craft legislation to reform the courts, in which cases often languish for months and years. But she cautioned against moving too quickly.
“Wide-ranging talks are needed, wide-ranging consultations and not a fast legislative process,” she said.
Mr. Duda said there were several parts of the proposed legislation that troubled him, especially provisions that give the country’s chief prosecutor and Justice Minister power over choosing high court justices. He was also upset that the bill was pressed through parliament without being presented to his office for consultations.
“Poland needs reform of the judiciary,” President Duda said, “But I am a supporter of a wise reform.”
He called on parliament to write fresh legislation and said he hoped they could do so within two months.
Mr. Duda said he spent the weekend consulting with analysts, historians, philosophers, legal scholars and others but was most struck by a discussion he had with Zofia Romaszewska, a veteran anti-communist activist and government supporters.
She “told me something which struck me most during the weekend,” President Duda said. “She said, ‘Mr. President, I lived in a state where the general prosecutor could do virtually anything and I wouldn’t like to come back to this state.”