EU opens criminal case against Poland for judicial reform



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New legislation will force more than a third of Polish Supreme Court judges to retire. For Brussels, the measure undermines the rule of law. Critics accuse the government of wanting to fill an organ with allies The European Commission on Monday opened a new trial against Poland because of the controversial reform of its judicial system in the latest episode of a year-long dispute between Brussels and the United States. right-wing government in Warsaw.




  Last week protesters protested in Warsaw over the reform of the judicial system

Last week protesters protested in Warsaw against the reform of the judiciary. Judicial

The measure is revealed the day before the entry into force of a new Polish law that will require 27 of the 72 Supreme Court justices – more than a third – to resign, reducing the age of retirement from 70 to 65 years old.

Legislation arose from the efforts of the ruling party, the populist Law and Justice Party (PiS), to exercise greater control over the judicial system.

The legend maintains that its measures are necessary to fight corruption and reform an inefficient judicial system still haunted by the communist era. Critics, on the other hand, argue that the legislation endangers the separation of powers and judicial independence, as it increases the influence of the government on the judiciary – for the government. opposition, the intention of PiS with forced retirements is to fill the vacant seats with judges allied with the government.

In announcing its decision against Warsaw on Monday, the European Commission reiterated that the reform of the judicial system "

" As there was no retreat on the Polish side [essas medidas] we made the decision to urgently launch the infringement procedure to uphold the principle of judicial independence, including the irremovability of judges. the independence of the Polish judiciary, "said spokesman Margaritis Schinas.

The Polish government now has one month to respond to the committee's letter .If that does not change its position, a next step would involve a lawsuit against Warsaw in the European Court of Justice (EU), which could cost the country harsher penalties.

The leadership of President Andrzej Duda insisted that

Officials in Brussels, in turn , do not agree on this point, saying that Poland has agreed to follow the rules of the bloc by joining the European Union.

In December, the European Commission had already activated the European Union. Article 7 of the Treaty of Lisbon against Poland, an unprecedented legal process for Warsaw to vote on the bloc, however, depends on the other 27 Member States and Hungary, an ally, has already signed a veto.

EK / afp / ap / dpa / lusa

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  Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle is the international broadcaster of Germany and produces independent journalism in 30 languages.

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