President of Poland vetoes controversial Supreme Court bill
The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, vetoed a controversial bill concerning the Supreme Court and the National Judiciary Council, reports Polskie Radio.
Duda stressed that changes in the judicial system of Poland are needed, but he is against the idea of strengthening the power of the Prosecutor General over the Supreme Court. He also called upon the protesters, who were opposed to the new laws, to keep the peace.
Duda noted that he had held numerous consultations with lawyers and politicians, especially Zofia Romaszewska (a public figure, one of the founders of the Workers’ Defence Committee and Radio Solidarnost, currently a public adviser to the President of Poland), who, according to him, played a decisive role in his decision.
The President regretted that he was not provided with the bill on the Supreme Court before the voting took place in parliament. Duda noted that in Polish legislative tradition, there has never been a decision whereby the Attorney General can interfere in the work of the Supreme Court.
The Polish leader once again stressed that he is a supporter of reforms to the judicial system, but “reasonable reforms.”
The President of Poland also said that within the framework of the presidential legislative initiative, he will prepare his own bills on the Supreme Court and the National Judiciary Council. According to Duda, the bills will be ready in two months.
The Polish Sejm approved the controversial law on the Supreme Court last Thursday, July 20th. On July 22nd it was approved by the Polish Senate. The law would have gone into effect if it was signed by the country’s president Andrzej Duda.
Earlier, the European Commission threatened Poland with serious consequences if the law on judicial reform was enacted in its present form.