Duda and PiS reach compromise over judiciary reforms?

According to the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) MP Stanisław Piotrowicz both sides have reached the compromise regarding the judiciary reforms. “We’ve reached a preliminary agreement ... I hope that in late November we could discuss the project in parliament,” Piotrowicz said. According to media sources, the compromise would still give the power to fire and appoint judges to the parliament. The candidates would need a three-fifths majority in Sejm, but if they failed to gain such approval, they could be chosen in the next round by a simple majority, which PiS comfortably enjoys. According to the representatives of both PiS and the president, another meeting between Duda, and PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński could take place soon to approve the compromise. In July, Duda unexpectedly vetoed PiS reform proposals following nationwide protests and warnings from Poland’s Western allies about the politicization of the courts. The changes were aimed at overhauling the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), which nominates judges, and the Supreme Court, which among other things, rules on the validity of elections. The veto raised questions about whether PiS would uphold its support for Duda in the next presidential election. In September the president made counter-proposals which still envisaged greater political control over the courts but to be exercised by the president and not by the justice minister, as well as parliament.