Feb 19 • 16:06 UTC 🇵🇱 Poland Rzeczpospolita

The President vetoes the reform of the National Council of the Judiciary. Proposes his own project and speaks of a referendum

The President of Poland has vetoed a reform law concerning the National Council of the Judiciary, claiming it undermines both the constitution and the interests of citizens.

On Thursday, the President of Poland announced his decision to veto the law regarding the National Council of the Judiciary, emphasizing his constitutional duty to protect civic interests. He criticized the legislation for not achieving its stated goal of restoring the rule of law but instead creating a new level of chaos while facilitating political influence over judges. In his statement, he expressed strong opposition to the law's provision for categorizing judges, which he argues would lead to a political division among them, effectively treating some judges as superior to others.

The President, including legal experts like Karol Nawrocki, asserted that the vetoed law is unconstitutional and warned it could be exploited as a means to purge judges deemed problematic by the current government. He highlighted potential consequences such as undermining the status of judges, which could ultimately jeopardize their rulings and create widespread uncertainty in the judiciary. The President indicated that this law contradicts the foundational legal principles of Poland and could lead to increased political manipulation within the judiciary system.

In response to this situation, the President is proposing an alternative project and has suggested the possibility of holding a referendum on the matter, aiming to involve citizens in the decision-making process on judicial reform. This move highlights a critical interaction between government authority and public oversight, revealing the complexities of legal reform in Poland amidst ongoing debates over judicial independence. The implications of this veto and proposed referendum could shape the political landscape and influence public trust in the judiciary moving forward.

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