Poland blocks EU anti-death penalty day

The discussion about the anti-death penalty day was to take place at the meeting of the EU Justice and Interior Ministers yesterday. However, the Portuguese presidency removed this point from the agenda since during unofficial talks with the Polish delegation it became clear that Poland was ready to veto such a decision. The Polish government demanded that the EU should take a broader view on the subject and link the discussion about the death penalty with the debate on abortion and euthanasia. "If we are to discuss the death penalty, we should also discuss abortion and euthanasia," said Deputy Justice Minister Andrzej Duda who ensured that, "Poland is not in favor of reinstating the death penalty." Interior Minister Władysław Stasiak provided a somewhat original explanation for the Poland's decision, "We are not in favor of following the herd. The fact that other EU countries support something does not mean we also have to." (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 10) E.B.