Poland has destroyed it's Independent Judiciary.

[CostinR]

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/21/...ice-judiciary/

With its latest move to purge the country’s Supreme Court and turn judges into political appointees, Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party has ramped up its assault on democratic checks and balances.

Buoyed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Warsaw — during which no mention was made of the nationalist party’s defanging of another major court, the Constitutional Tribunal, earlier this year or any of its numerous anti-democratic actions since winning power in 2015 — the government appears to have been emboldened to hasten its march toward authoritarianism.

Its latest parliamentary initiative, likely to be signed into law next week by President Andrzej Duda, would trigger the immediate dismissal of all of Poland’s current Supreme Court judges, except those the president decides should stay. Additionally, this month, the government decided that members of the National Council of the Judiciary — a body that picks all of the country’s judges — will now be selected by parliament, rather than by other judges as used to be the case. These moves together effectively hand politicians full control over the judicial branch, leaving the path clear for the ruling party to rest assured that whatever bills it passes will essentially be rubber-stamped by Poland’s most important courts.

The move prompted nationwide protests and renewed criticism from European Union officials, who have repeatedly castigated Poland’s ruling party for undermining democratic institutions and rule of law in the country since it came to power. The first vice president of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, stated in a press briefing in Brussels that the changes “would abolish any remaining judicial independence and put the judiciary under full political control of the government.… Judges will serve at the pleasure of the political leaders, and be dependent upon them, from their appointment to their pension.” He warned that the EU’s executive is “very close” to triggering Article 7, a procedure assessing systematic threats to the rule of law and potentially triggering sanctions, including the suspension of Poland’s voting rights in the Council of the European Union. Were this to happen, it would set a major precedent and serve as a huge knock to Poland’s standing within the EU: No other EU country has ever been subjected to the process.

But sanctions require the consent of all EU members, and Warsaw’s European illiberal bedfellow in Budapest is likely to veto any such moves. Hungary’s autocratic prime minister, Viktor Orban, has already sent a letter of support to Warsaw expressing dismay that Poland was being “insulted and attacked by the European Commission.” And while the U.S. State Department expressed “concern” about the “Polish government’s continued pursuit of legislation that appears to limit the judiciary and potentially weaken the rule of law,” the White House is unlikely to come out strongly against arguably the most pro-Trump government in Europe.

The only player capable of nudging the Polish government to reconsider its assault on democratic institutions remains the European Union. But to get anywhere with Warsaw’s current authorities, the EU would need to show far more decisiveness in defending its values than it has so far. Right now, the Polish government simply doesn’t believe Brussels has the will or ability to carry out its threats. When, in July 2016, the European Commission issued Warsaw a three-month deadline to address threats to the rule of law or face potential sanctions, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the ruling party leader and Poland’s most powerful politician, dismissively described the ultimatum as “amusing.” Indeed, nothing much came of it. The Polish government dismissed the European Commission’s recommendations as “political interference” and largely ignored them, leaving the EU only with its so-called “nuclear option” of Article 7.

People were tortured and killed during the communist era as they fought against an authoritarian system with puppet courts, now Poland is making them puppets again.

[GennGreymane]

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/21/...ice-judiciary/



People were tortured and killed during the communist era as they fought against an authoritarian system with puppet courts, now Poland is making them puppets again.

Been keeping taps on whats going on there. Its gettin a tad out of hand there.

[Wyrt]

Poland is taking notes from Turkey?

[PACOX]

Shit like this is why its important to at least have an ear to whats politically going on in your country. Might wake up one morning to find out your courts working for the police.

[CostinR]

Poland is taking notes from Turkey?

Erdogan is a great teacher.

[Deleted]

Poland is taking notes from Turkey?

More like Ukraine.

[Grapemask]

The EU absolutely should trigger article 7 the moment the legislation is signed.

[Zecora]

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/21/...ice-judiciary/



People were tortured and killed during the communist era as they fought against an authoritarian system with puppet courts, now Poland is making them puppets again.

"Amusingly" enough, one line that was used in getting rid of it, was that "only communists and socialists and other lefties wants the independant judiciary".

[CostinR]

"Amusingly" enough, one line that was used in getting rid of it, was that "only communists and socialists and other lefties wants the independant judiciary".

I couldn't help myself reading this statement.

I laughed.

[Arrashi]

I really don't see the problem. Our grand, most beloved, ever-cherished, 3 times blessed all-wise and omnipotent (and gorgeous) leader, beloved Jaroslaw kaczynski only wants to make our great nation better. The only people who would oppose him are commie-jewish-illuminati-russo-refugee-nazi-german-frenchie-americano-black-ukrainian-britons and subhuman traitors who want downfall of our glorious nation.

Long live peoples republic of poland ! Long live glorious leader !

PS: Send help they are pointing a gun at me as i write it.

[GennGreymane]

I really don't see the problem. Our grand, most beloved, ever-cherished, 3 times blessed all-wise and omnipotent (and gorgeous) leader, beloved Jaroslaw kaczynski only wants to make our great nation better. The only people who would oppose him are commie-jewish-illuminati-russo-refugee-nazi-german-frenchie-americano-black-ukrainian-britons and subhuman traitors who want downfall of our glorious nation.

Long live peoples republic of poland ! Long live glorious leader !

PS: Send help they are pointing a gun at me as i write it.

*Greymane special forces INC!*

[Underverse]

At least the EU is there to prevent things from getting too far out of hand. But yeah, this Law and Justice party is skirting fascism.

[Arrashi]

At least the EU is there to prevent things from getting too far out of hand. But yeah, this Law and Justice party is skirting fascism.

The problem is that EU needs to act. Not talk. People are on streets NOW. And anything that EU would do would give protesters even bigger push. They can't wait till things calm down.

[Deleted]

Aren't judges' appointments in other countries also influenced by politicans, even if much less directly? At least I've read some comments like this from people who were praising this reform. Separation of three powers isn't that rigid outside of USA afaik.

[Ravenblade]

The problem is that EU needs to act. Not talk. People are on streets NOW. And anything that EU would do would give protesters even bigger push. They can't wait till things calm down.

The problem is that every state has veto rights which was put in to prevent unjust majority-based measures it is now being used to prevent just measures. This means people like Orban can send the whole union into a deadlocked state: can do nothing, can only observe and let it happen. I wished that certain measures cannot be vetoed at all, actually I wish things like these are not even up to vote. The EU needs its own constitutional court really. Right now it seems critics of the Eastern European expansion were right all along, countries which until recently didn't give a toss about human rights will most likely fall back to their previous behaviour. I am quite shocked at which rate countries like Poland pedal backwards just to finally shut those cakeholes from the evil independent media so people can finally get back to truth(tm) and living inside a circle of wagons.

[Arrashi]

I am quite shocked at which rate countries like Poland pedal backwards just to finally shut those cakeholes from the evil independent media so people can finally get back to truth(tm) and living inside a circle of wagons.

Because kaczynski needs his revenge. That's why they rush all of it. They know all well, that they won't win next election (unless thanks to their manipulation and manning all previously independant bodies they will simply rig it) and they need to rush.

On EU side, all they really need to do is cancel money they give to polish farmers/agroculture. They are core electorate of PIS and they are the ones who would be most outraged. This is also the reason why people talking about Polexit don't know what they are talking about.

As it is, EU should play smart, and not let itself be bound by complex procedures trying to punish poland. Simply stop rewarding them. Its that easy.

[Skroe]

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/21/...ice-judiciary/



People were tortured and killed during the communist era as they fought against an authoritarian system with puppet courts, now Poland is making them puppets again.

A country Donald Trump's political revolution applauded just last month as kindred spirit in a sense.

The irony of you of all people posting this is quite amazing.

How's that army that Russia would still make short work of in an afternoon coming by the way?

[CostinR]

A country Donald Trump's political revolution applauded just last month as kindred spirit in a sense.

The irony of you of all people posting this is quite amazing.

How's that army that Russia would still make short work of in an afternoon coming by the way?

I don't see any politician in the US moving to criticize Poland now do I? I wonder why, not that it would help or the sanctions would help. The last thing that will work is a sanctimonious attitude from foreign leaders.

As for Trump. He didn't just go there to praise them. He had a dig at them at the same time.

U.S. President Donald Trump singled out the historic Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa for praise during a speech in Warsaw organized and attended by members of Poland’s ruling party — who despise the former trade union leader and accuse him of collaborating with the communist regime.

http://www.politico.eu/article/trump...-leaders-foes/

Russia would make short work of every Eastern European army in an afternoon while America would cower like a little bitch.

Because you did on both Georgia and Ukraine.

Because kaczynski needs his revenge. That's why they rush all of it. They know all well, that they won't win next election (unless thanks to their manipulation and manning all previously independant bodies they will simply rig it) and they need to rush.

As of right now according the polls they'd win the election.

[PosPosPos]

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/21/...ice-judiciary/



People were tortured and killed during the communist era as they fought against an authoritarian system with puppet courts, now Poland is making them puppets again.

Yeah, far-right party wants to institute authoritarianism and tyranny, colour me shocked.

[Devonitar]

It's rather terryfing to be honest. That meme with a dog in a burning house comes to mind, with a subtitle: "at least we have no immigrants".