This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40622896

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Poles rally against controversial reform of judiciary Poles rally against controversial reform of judiciary
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of Poles have gathered outside parliament in the capital Warsaw to condemn a controversial reform of the judiciary.Thousands of Poles have gathered outside parliament in the capital Warsaw to condemn a controversial reform of the judiciary.
Protesters say the bill, passed by the Senate on Saturday, will erode judges' independence and undermine democracy.Protesters say the bill, passed by the Senate on Saturday, will erode judges' independence and undermine democracy.
It gives MPs and the justice minister the power to appoint judges without consulting judicial circles.It gives MPs and the justice minister the power to appoint judges without consulting judicial circles.
The government says the move is needed because the judiciary is corrupt and serves only the interests of elites.The government says the move is needed because the judiciary is corrupt and serves only the interests of elites.
The bill must still be signed by President Andrzej Duda in order to become law. He has given no indication that he plans to veto it.The bill must still be signed by President Andrzej Duda in order to become law. He has given no indication that he plans to veto it.
Since it came to power in 2015, the government of the conservative, populist Law and Justice party (PiS), has passed a series of controversial reforms, triggering mass protests.Since it came to power in 2015, the government of the conservative, populist Law and Justice party (PiS), has passed a series of controversial reforms, triggering mass protests.
How deep is opposition to the reform?
Opposition supporters and human rights activists gathered under Polish and EU flags, and other banners, blowing klaxons.Opposition supporters and human rights activists gathered under Polish and EU flags, and other banners, blowing klaxons.
Włodzimierz Wróbel, a Supreme Court justice, told the BBC Poland would lose an independent judiciary. Instead of Law and Justice, one placard read "Lawlessness and Injustice", the BBC's Adam Easton reports from Warsaw.
"It's the politicians and the minister of justice, who is at the same time the general prosecutor, who will choose the judges of the Supreme Court," he said. The size of the crowd could not immediately be verified.
"This way the Supreme Court which validates all verdicts in the judiciary system in Poland and also validates the elections, in this way you can influence these decisions if they are, let's say, politically sensitive." Opposition leaders like former Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna of Civic Platform and Ryszard Petru of the Modern party took to the stage to address it.
Polish senators backed the judicial reform bill in a vote on Saturday morning after a heated debate. Mr Schetyna had earlier likened the reform to a "coup".
Earlier this week, Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro had argued that the changes were necessary because the current system of appointing judges was undemocratic. The opposition fear the law will give parliament - dominated by PiS lawmakers - indirect control over judicial appointments, violating the constitutional separation of powers.
"We want to end corporatism and introduce the oxygen of democracy there. Because Poland is a democracy based on the rule of law. Włodzimierz Wróbel, a Supreme Court justice, told the BBC Poland would lose its independent judiciary.
"This is not court-ocracy," the minister said. Why is the government doing this?
Many Poles agree with the government, the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw reports, but many others say this is not about reform but about political control. The leader of the PiS, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, says the reforms are needed because the judiciary is corrupt and only serves the elites. His party has previously passed legislation giving it control over the public media and civil service.
Opposition parties are concerned that the law would give parliament - dominated by PiS lawmakers - an indirect control over judicial appointments, violating the constitutional separation of powers. Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro said the current system of appointing judges was undemocratic.
"We want to end corporatism and introduce the oxygen of democracy there," he said. "Because Poland is a democracy based on the rule of law. This is not court-ocracy."
Many Poles agree with the government, our correspondent reports.
A separate bill was also presented in parliament this week, which would allow the justice minister to get rid of all of Poland's Supreme Court judges and appoint new ones.A separate bill was also presented in parliament this week, which would allow the justice minister to get rid of all of Poland's Supreme Court judges and appoint new ones.
This piece of legislation was not consulted on beforehand and introduced to parliament in the middle of the night, our correspondent says. It is still being discussed.This piece of legislation was not consulted on beforehand and introduced to parliament in the middle of the night, our correspondent says. It is still being discussed.
Under the PiS government, he adds, the justice minister already wields considerable power over the prosecution service in his role as prosecutor general because he can influence prosecutors to launch investigations.Under the PiS government, he adds, the justice minister already wields considerable power over the prosecution service in his role as prosecutor general because he can influence prosecutors to launch investigations.
Grzegorz Schetyna, who leads the opposition Civic Platform party, denounced the tabling of the bill as an "announcement of a coup", the AFP news agency reports. How are Poland's EU partners reacting?
Earlier this week, the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner, Nils Muiznieks, said the reforms were "a major setback for judicial independence". The European Commission, which is already investigating Poland for a serious breach of the rule of law, will urgently discuss the developments next week
Meanwhile, Manfred Weber, leader of the European Parliament's largest grouping the EPP, said: "Law and Justice is putting an end to the rule of law and leaving the European community of values." The Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner, Nils Muiznieks, said the reforms were a "major setback for judicial independence".
Manfred Weber, leader of the European Parliament's largest grouping the EPP, said: "Law and Justice is putting an end to the rule of law and leaving the European community of values."