This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/world/europe/poland-president-duda-veto-courts.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Poland’s President Vetoes 2 Laws Limiting Courts’ Independence Poland’s President Vetoes 2 Laws Limiting Courts’ Independence
(35 minutes later)
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. 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 that had been 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, potentially including 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.
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. Later in the morning, Mr. Duda said 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. Previously, presiding judges held significant power because they could choose which judges heard which cases, but the new law would assign cases using a lottery, government officials said, although exceptions would 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. The two laws vetoed by the president — one that would have forced the resignation of all Supreme Court justices, with their replacements to be selected by the justice minister, and another that would have restructured the council that selects judicial candidates to give government-appointed members effective veto power — will be sent back to Parliament, which is expected to write new bills that 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. Parliament has the power to override the president’s veto, but doing so 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.
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, 45, a former backbencher in the ruling party, was hand-picked by Mr. Kaczynski, 68, as the party’s presidential candidate, though he left the party to serve as an independent when he assumed office in August 2015.
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. Since Law and Justice took power in October 2015 elections, Mr. Duda has been a reliable backer of the government’s initiatives, making his Monday vetoes more surprising.
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. 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, the speaker of the Sejm, the lower house of parliament.
Pawel Tyska, a member of Mr. Kukiz’ party, said the vetoes should spur “quick reform of the justice system.” Pawel Kukiz, a Polish pop star who formed his own political party that was seen as the likeliest faction to side with Law and Justice on the issue, indicated on Monday that he agreed with Mr. Duda’s decision. “Thank you, Mr. President,” he posted on his Facebook page.
Opposition leaders welcomed the news of the vetoes, but warily, and said continued pressure on the government is needed. A member of Mr. Kukiz’s party, Stanislaw Tyszka, 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 was 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.”“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. Lech Walesa, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who led the Solidarity movement that toppled communism a quarter century ago, and who served as the first president after communism, said he had been “positively surprised” by Mr. 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.“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.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!”“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. 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. Katarzyna Lubnauer, a member of Parliament for the opposition Modern Party, said critics of the proposed bills were 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.“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. Mr. Duda said there were several parts of the proposed legislation that troubled him, especially provisions that gave 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.” “Poland needs reform of the judiciary,” Mr. 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. 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. 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 anticommunist activist and government supporter.
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.” She “told me something which struck me most during the weekend,” Mr. 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.’ ”