Europe warns Poland over backing the death penalty

The Council of Europe is calling on Polish President Lech Kaczyński to withdraw from his idea to restore capital punishment. His spokesman replied that there must have been a misunderstanding, as the President has not submitted any amendment of the penal code, aiming at restoring the death penalty. The President only expressed his view that he is in favor of the death penalty, although he is fully aware of the fact that it is impossible to restore it due to European Union law. In a letter the President of the Council of Europe reminded President Kaczyński that keeping the death penalty off the statute book is one of the key values of CE member states. Nevertheless, last week the League of Polish Families (LPR) submitted an amendment to the penal code, allowing the death penalty for paedofile murderers. This penalty has not been used in Poland since 1988. Self-Defense supported LPR and calls for every possible effort to persuade the European Union to change its view on the issue. LPR suggests a referendum on death penalty, an idea criticized by Law and Justice as premature. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 3) J.L.