WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s lawmakers voted Friday to approve a latest law on judicial accountability that the federal government hopes will meet European Union expectations and help unfreeze billions of euros in pandemic recovery funds for the country.
Brussels suspended the help for Poland, saying the federal government’s policies of exerting control over the judiciary are in violation of democratic principles. The EU has called for essential changes to be made before Poland will be granted access to the cash.
The fitting-wing coalition government argues that the provisions of the brand new law have been agreed on with Brussels. Some previous changes made by Poland didn’t go far enough for the EU.
However the justice minister, who introduced the measures to wield political control over the judiciary, opposes the changes, threatening the federal government’s future, and President Andrzej Duda says he hasn’t been consulted on the brand new law.
The lower house of parliament voted 203-52 with 189 abstentions to approve the brand new laws, a vote that reflects the divisions contained in the ruling coalition and opposition’s scepticism.
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The brand new regulations move the divisive disciplinary procedures regarding judges from the Supreme Court to the foremost administrative court. Additionally they broaden the potential for vetting judicial independence and authority. It wasn’t immediately clear if the EU could be satisfied with the changes.
The brand new law now goes to the opposition-controlled Senate for assessment after which requires approval from Duda.
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