European Parliament debated situation in Poland

On Tuesday afternoon the European Parliament debated the situation in Poland after the European Commission launched the rule of law procedure last week. The sitting was attended by Poland's Prime Minister Beata Szydło. President Martin Schulz opened the discussion by saying that "the rule of law, the question of checks and balances, is not a question of procedure but one that is central to our European democracy and society." First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans expressed his hope "to move forward in a constructive and facts-based dialogue with Poland, to prevent the emergence of a systemic threat to the rule of law" In response, Szydło assured that Poland hasn't breached the law: "Polish citizens have chosen our programme in a democratic election and we are implementing it, respecting our Constitution and the European Treaties". (...) "The dispute over the Constitutional Court in Poland is political, not  legal and as such it is an internal Polish matter, but I'm ready to talk to the opposition." "The Constitutional Tribunal is doing fine in Poland these days. It works. Nothing bad is going on," she added, explaining that PiS has "never sought to dominate the tribunal ... The dispute around it is a political, not a legal one." While some political group leaders criticized her government for disregarding democratic checks and balances, others agreed with Szydło’s contention that it had not breached the rule of law in Poland.