Karolis Nawrockis has vetoed a law intended to restore judicial independence in Poland, which had previously been modified to allow politicians to appoint judges.
The veto by Karolis Nawrockis comes after the pro-European coalition led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk passed a legislative proposal aimed at ensuring that the National Judicial Council (KRS) appoints judges solely through other judges rather than politicians. This initiative seeks to reverse reforms enacted by the conservative "Law and Justice" party (PiS), which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, that criticized the KRS's revision for being politicized and leading to a lack of independence within the judicial system.
In his video statement on platform X, Nawrockis expressed his strong opposition to the new legislation, labeling it as "clearly unconstitutional" and stating it could be used as a tool to remove judges deemed undesirable by the current government. He warned that such actions could result in chaos within the judicial system, undermining its integrity and functioning. This perspective reflects ongoing tensions in Polish politics regarding judicial reforms and independence from political influence.
Justice Minister Waldemar Ε»urek described the veto as having a "political nature" and suggested that the president was attempting to undermine necessary reforms for the proper functioning of courts. The discourse surrounding this law and its veto is indicative of a broader historical struggle over judicial independence in Poland, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining a separation between the judiciary and political powers to uphold democratic principles and rule of law.
