Hungary promised to block any sanctions that the EU may introduce against Poland
On Saturday, July 22, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed his country’s solidarity with the Polish government, reported Deutsche Welle. He stated that Hungary stood to support Poland “in the fight against the European Union,” which plans to introduce sanctions against Warsaw for judicial reform.
"The inquisition against Poland will not succeed. Hungary will use all legitimate opportunities against the European Union to demonstrate its solidarity with Poland," the head of the Hungarian government declared.
On July 22, the Polish Senate approved a law on Supreme Court reorganization that actually puts the Court under government and parliament control. The law will come into effect if it is signed by the country's President, Andrzej Duda. The European Commission had threatened Poland with serious consequences if the law on judicial reform ever came into effect in its present form.
The First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans announced on July 19 in Brussels that the EU could start the procedure according to Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty, paving way for sanctions that could include depriving the country-violator of the voting right. The meeting will be held in the European Commission at the end of July.
According to Timmermans, if this judicial reform comes into effect “it would abolish the last vestiges of justice and put it entirely under the political control of the government."