Poland’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Supreme Court judges can continue to sit on the court until the Court of Justice of the European Union rules on the laws passed by Poland which give the government more control over the judiciary.
One law passed by Poland’s legislative branch last week would give politicians the ability to select justices. Another law would force about one-third of the justices into retirement by lowering the mandatory retirement age.
The laws were passed by Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party. Reuters described the Law and Justice Party as one that “combines left-leaning economics with nationalist and eurosceptic politics.”
The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Poland’s judiciary laws at the beginning of July.
Poland’s president Andrzej Duda said that the Supreme Court ruling was invalid.
According to Bloomberg, tensions are growing between Poland and the EU. The EU “is mulling unprecedented sanctions—possibly including cuts in development aid—over the country’s alleged failure to uphold democratic standards.”
Poland also drew international criticism in June for passing legislation making it illegal to say that Poland played a role in Holocaust atrocities.
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(Published by Aug 03, 2018)