Developments in Poland have raised “serious concerns” regarding the protection of democratic institutions, according to some MEPs.
The co chairs of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in the European Parliament condemned the Tusk government’s actions against Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal.
The Polish PM Donald Tusk is seeking a radical shake up of the court and has strongly defended the move, saying it is vital.
The EU says it is monitoring the situation which has sparked some civil unrest.
Even so, some MEPs have attacked the move “as a violation of the rule of law.”
ECR expressed support for Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s “defence” of the constitutional order and warned European institutions against “ignoring these developments.”
The group will hold a news conference in the EU parliament on the issue on Wednesday.
Speakers include MEPs Patryk Jaki, Co-Chair of the ECR Group, and Tobiasz Bocheński, also of ECR.
It will address developments surrounding the Polish Constitutional Tribunal and their constitutional and political implications.
An ECR statement said, “Developments in Poland on 30 October have raised serious concerns regarding the protection of democratic institutions, the constitutional order and the fundamental principles underpinning the functioning of a democratic state governed by the rule of law.”
ECR Co-Chair Nicola Procaccini said: “The Tusk government’s actions constitute a clear and grave violation of the rule of law. We condemn this attack on judicial independence and Poland’s constitutional safeguards. No government stands above the law.”
“We support President Nawrocki in defending Poland’s constitutional order. The European institutions must not avert their eyes from what is happening. Respect for national sovereignty and judicial independence must remain a matter of principle, unaffected by political alliances.”
Patryk Jaki added, “ Tusk’s left-liberal government has used the police to forcibly install its own people, posing as judges, in the independent Constitutional Tribunal. It then had the police block access for the legitimate judges.
“The police also barred Members of Parliament from entering the building and attempted to prevent the President of the Republic, Karol Nawrocki, from entering. He had cut short his trip to Senegal to defend democracy in Poland.
“No one should remain indifferent to what is happening in Poland. Tusk wants to seize control of the Constitutional Tribunal to remove a crucial check on his government’s power. The European Union, which so often invokes the rule of law, now remains silent while Poland’s constitutional order is under attack.”
Elsewhere, the European Green Party has also commented on the ongoing row and also criticised ECR.
Its co chair Vula Tsetsi said, “What is happening in Poland is a deliberate attack on judicial independence and the rule of law. President Karol Nawrocki, politically aligned with PiS, is undermining the Polish Constitution, judicial independence and the rule of law by obstructing the work of lawfully elected Constitutional Tribunal judges. PiS is responsible for this attack, but it cannot hide behind national borders. Its European political family, the ECR, must also take responsibility.
“The ECR cannot claim to defend democracy while supporting a party that is actively attacking democratic institutions in Poland. Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia belongs to this same political family. We will expose this hypocrisy and demand political accountability. There can be no double standards when it comes to democracy and the rule of law.”
Ciarán Cuffe, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, said:“We stand firmly with our member party Zieloni and with the Polish citizens defending democracy and judicial independence. Ahead of and during our Congress in Poland, we will show our solidarity and make clear that the European Greens stand with those fighting for democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law. We will not accept political interference in independent judicial institutions.”
