President vetoes controversial judiciary reforms

In a surprise move, President Andrzej Duda announced that he will veto controversial laws on the Supreme Court and the National Council of Judiciary (KRS). “As president I don't feel this law would strengthen a sense of justice. These laws must be amended,” he said. He explained that he was vetoing two of the new laws but approving a third, which gives the justice minister the right to name the heads of Poland's lower courts. He also added that he will present his version of bills on the Supreme Court and KRS “within two months.” The vetoed laws would force the immediate retirement of all Supreme Court Judges, and replace them with the candidates picked by the justice minister. The KRS law is similar, only the new members would have been appointed by the parliament. The Council has powers to nominate judges, while the Supreme Court confirms the validity of elections, among other tasks. The reform and related Sejm deliberations have sparked a number of demonstrations throughout Poland, as well as criticism from the European Commission, with Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans stating that, “these laws would have a very significant negative impact on the independence of the judiciary and would increase the systemic threat to the rule of law in Poland.” Law and Justice needs a three-fifths majority if it decides to block the president’s veto, which could be achieved only with full support of Kukiz’15 and independent MPs, a number of which voted against the legislation.