Is Poland drifting towards totalitarianism?
In Depth: Polish judicial reforms are latest step towards authoritarian rule
The European Union is considering unprecedented disciplinary measures against Poland over its judicial reforms - specifically, the adoption of 13 new laws that allow the Polish government to meddle in legal matters and threaten the independence of the judiciary.
Poland has been given three months to either address the EU’s concerns or face sanctions under Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty.
In defiance of the EU move, Polish President Andrzej Duda yesterday signed into law two bills reforming the Supreme Court and the National Council of the Judiciary, the BBC reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Duda defended Poland in a television interview on Wednesday night, accusing the EU of “hypocrisy”, and claiming that some of its leaders are “lying” about Poland’s disregard for basic European values, AP reports.
How did the EU and Poland get to this crisis point?
The battle for the courts has been “one of the biggest political stand-offs in Poland since communism fell in 1989”, according to Bloomberg.
After being elected into power in October 2015, the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) wasted no time in taking on the judiciary.
First, politicians refused to swear in five new constitutional court judges appointed by the outgoing government and put forward five nominees of their own, initiating a conflict with the constitutional court now known as the Constitutional Crisis of 2015.
Since then, the PiS-controlled parliament has passed legislation linked to the functioning of the constitutional tribunal that critics claim was “designed to minimise the ability of the court to hold the government to account”, The Guardian reported in December 2016.
The European Commission warned the Polish government that the legislation posed a “systemic risk to the rule of law” - but that didn’t slow down the PiS.
The ruling party has framed its reforms as a purifying mission, saying it will root out endemic corruption, speed up sluggish court proceedings and make the judiciary more accountable.
Duda has passionately defended Poland’s right to make changes to its laws, arguing that “putting courts and judges under greater political control will make them more accountable to regular Poles, ending an unaccountable oligarchy of judges”, AP reports.
But critics, led in Poland by a vocal grass-roots movement called Committee for the Defence of Democracy, have called the changes a brazen attempt to compromise the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
Thousands of Poles have taken to the streets to demonstrate against what they see as the undermining of the Constitution and the dismantling of checks on the government’s power. Crowds waving candles and singing the national anthem have gathered outside the presidential palace throughout the year.
“When somebody dies, you bring a light to the cemetery,” one demonstrator told CNN. “This law means the death of independent judiciary.”
An attack on Poland’s institutions
While much media attention has centred on the judicial reforms, they are just the latest step in the government’s multipronged attack on Poland’s institutions, The Economist has reported.
Since 2015, the PiS has “reduced the public broadcaster to a propaganda organ, packed the civil service with loyalists and purged much of the army’s leadership”.
The party’s ideology has pushed Poland further away from the EU, which the PiS sees as an unwanted imposer of liberal values and multiculturalism.
Widespread mistrust of the PiS judicial reforms should not be construed as opposition to the government itself, however.
Poland’s government remains “highly popular” at home, Reuters says, as a result of low unemployment, a generous welfare system and an emphasis on Catholic values.
“Many Poles are also wary of further integration, membership of the euro currency and any plans to enforce the relocation of refugees from the Middle East to EU states.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What's next for electric vehicles under Trump?
Today's Big Question And what does that mean for Tesla's Elon Musk?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published