EU warns Poland is 'very close' to losing its voting rights

(Image credit: ADAM CHELSTOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

The European Union may suspend Poland's voting rights because of its ruling right-wing Law and Justice party's recent reform efforts. The party is attempting to gain parliamentary approval to effectively "abolish" the judicial system's independence by giving politicians "power over the appointment of judges and members of the country's supreme court," The Guardian reported.

Protests have erupted in response to the Polish government's effort, and now the EU is considering taking action, as European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said it would "greatly amplify the threat to the rule of law." Timmermans said the EU is "very close" to triggering Article 7 — the provision that allows for voting rights to be suspended as punishment for breaches of EU obligations — against Poland, which has never been done before.