EU Subjects Poland To Investigation Over Controversial Law Passed By Its New Right-Wing Government

The European Commission has launched a preliminary review to determine whether Poland's new right-wing government had violated democratic law standards of the European Union.

Frans Timmermans, first vice president of the European Commission, has announced the decision. As to not prod on the possibility of confrontation with the Polish government, he said that the commission would take "a very cooperative approach." Timmermans also emphasized that commission's investigation is aimed to clarify the facts in an objective way and to start a dialogue with Polish authorities without prejudging the outcome, The Guardian reports.

The Commission has stepped in after Poland President Andrzej Duda recently approved laws enabling the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government to appoint the heads of public TV and radio, and choose judges for Poland's constitutional court.  

Furthermore, other additional changes of this controversial law include measures that would rein in the court's ability to overturn new laws; allow the government to directly appoint the country's top prosecutor; and pardon the head of the security services, who had been appealing a conviction for abuse of office.

This law extending executive power to different legal branches had instantly ignited protests against the law as it removes checks on government power hence risking genuine democracy.

Reportedly, a spokesman for Law and Justice, the new governing party in Poland, had stated that the government is willing to cooperate with the Commission. However, to date, this inquiry of EU authorities had Polish officials criticizing their plans.

Poland's Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, who will appear in the European Parliament next Tuesday declared how she will be defending the government's moves against EU.

"Poland has been wrongly accused of violating the rules of a democratic state of law. It's not true. It's slander. Democracy in Poland is doing well." Szydlo said, as per Wall Street Journal.

In two months, the commission will begin an official assessment using a three-step process enacted in 2014 to determine whether the government of Poland violated European Union rules. If the assessment concludes that Poland acted wrongly, recommendations will be offered to resolve the situation. If Poland refuses to act, the commission could impose sanctions including stripping the country of European Union voting rights, an event never before accounted in alliances.

Tags

European Commission, European Union, European Commission investigation, Poland, Poland Government, Poland new media law, poland right-wing government, President Andrzej Duda, Andrzej Duda, Frans Timmermans, Poland, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo

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