PiS amendments to Constitutional Tribunal under fire

Series Title
Series Details 09.12.15
Publication Date 09/12/2015
Content Type

Poland's Constitutional Tribunal (Constitutional Court) ruled on the 9 December 2015 that the imminent replacement of several Tribunal judges with new judges closely affiliated to the new national-conservative PiS government was unconstitutional.

Opponents and supporters of Poland's new ruling conservative party marched in large numbers through the streets of Warsaw on the 12 and 13 December 2015 respectively. The rallies came in the context of the constitutional crisis.

In this context, European Parliament president Martin Schulz compared the political situation in Poland to a 'coup', drawing the anger of the Polish government.

Further pro-democracy rallies took place in Warsaw, other cities in Poland, plus Brussels, Berlin, London and Tokyo on the 19 December 2015.

EurActiv and other news sources reported that the lower house of the Polish parliament had passed a constitutional court law amendment on the 22 December 2015 affecting the Constitutional Tribunal (Passed by the upper house on the 24 December 2015). This legislation proposed by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party would require the Constitutional Tribunal to pass decisions with a two-thirds majority and at least thirteen of fifteen judges present.

The Tribunal had suggested that the new law interfered with the court's independence and aimed to hinder its proper functioning.

The Polish ombudsman and the Helsinki foundation appealed to the President of Poland to send the bill related to Constitutional Tribunal to the Tribunal before signing it. The EU and the Council of Europe expressed misgivings.

Radio Poland reported on its website on the 26 December 2015 that Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski had asked the Venice Commission (of the Council of Europe) for an opinion on the legal solutions contained in the amendments to the Constitutional Tribunal.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/232240,PiS-amendments-to-Constitutional-Tribunal-under-fire
Related Links
ESO: Background information: How will Poland’s Law and Justice party govern? http://www.europeansources.info/record/how-will-polands-law-and-justice-party-govern/
Gazeta Wyborcza, 10.12.15: Poles must save their democracy (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE174681-Poles-must-save-their-democracy
Politico, 08.12.15: Poland’s ‘overnight court’ breaks all the rule http://www.politico.eu/article/law-vs-justice-poland-constitution-judges/
Deutsche Welle, 09.12.15: Poland's top court deals setback to ruling party over judge appointments http://dw.com/p/1HKys
Radio Poland, 09.12.15: EP debate on Poland shelved http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/232246,EP-debate-on-Poland-shelved
Wikipedia: Constitutional Tribunal (Poland) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Tribunal_(Poland)
Deutsche Welle, 13.12.15: Thousands march in support of new Polish government after opposition rally http://dw.com/p/1HMkJ
Radio Poland, 13.12.15: Rival marches in Warsaw mark martial law anniversary http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/232682,Rival-marches-in-Warsaw-mark-martial-law-anniversary
Radio Poland, 13.12.15: Poland's ruling conservatives determined to 'fight crony system' http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/232730,Polands-ruling-conservatives-determined-to-fight-crony-system
BBC News, 13.12.15: Poland protests: Thousands rally to support Law and Justice party http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35088391
EUObserver, 14.12.15: Judicial dispute prompts rallies, counter-rallies in Poland https://euobserver.com/political/131504
Politico, 14.12.15: Jarosław Kaczyński enters Polish judges row http://www.politico.eu/article/jaroslaw-kaczynski-enters-polish-judges-row/
Super Express, 14.12.15: Don't overrate demonstrations in Poland (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE174818-Don-t-overrate-demonstrations-in-Poland
Radio Poland, 14.12.15: Polish PM expecting apology from European Parliament chief http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/232831,Polish-PM-expecting-apology-from-European-Parliament-chief
EUObserver, 15.12.15: Polish 'coup' dispute threatens German relations https://euobserver.com/political/131523
EurActiv, 15.12.15: Poland demands apology after Schulz calls judicial changes ‘coup’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/poland-demands-apology-after-schulz-calls-judicial-changes-coup-320456
Deutsche Welle, 19.12.15: Thousands attend 'pro-democracy' demonstrations in Poland http://dw.com/p/1HQV9
Radio Poland, 19.12.15: Anti-government protests held in over 20 Polish cities http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/233593,Antigovernment-protests-held-in-over-20-Polish-cities
Radio Poland, 18.12.15: New constitution sought amid Poland's political crisis http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/233502,New-constitution-sought-amid-Polands-political-crisis
EurActiv, 23.12.15: Polish parliament passes controversial amendment to top court law http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/polish-parliament-passes-controversial-amendment-top-court-law-320614
Radio Poland, 24.12.15: Authorities appeal to president to consult on Tribunal http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/234233,Authorities-appeal-to-president-to-consult-on-Tribunal
EurActiv 24.12.15: EU warns Poland to protect 'rule of law' over judicial crisis http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/eu-warns-poland-protect-rule-law-over-judicial-crisis-320616
Politico, 24.12.15: Poland’s constitutional crisis goes international http://www.politico.eu/article/poland-constitution-crisis-kaczynski-duda/
EUObserver, 23.12.15: Polish government curtails constitutional tribunal's powers https://euobserver.com/political/131662
Deutsche Welle, 24.12.15: EU warns Poland on rule of law as constitutional crisis escalates http://dw.com/p/1HSdF
EUObserver, 24.12.15: EU urges Poland to halt constitutional reform https://euobserver.com/justice/131665
Politico, 24.12.15: [Opinion]: Poland’s democracy is crumbling http://www.politico.eu/article/polands-court-international-help-democracy-reform-rights-rule-of-law/
Radio Poland, 26.12.15: FM asks Venice Commission for opinion on Tribunal http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/234320,FM-asks-Venice-Commission-for-opinion-on-Tribunal

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