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-40703909

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Poland's President Duda vetoes judicial reforms after protests Poland's President Duda vetoes judicial reforms after protests
(about 1 hour later)
Polish President Andrzej Duda has announced he is vetoing a controversial law to replace Supreme Court judges with government nominees.Polish President Andrzej Duda has announced he is vetoing a controversial law to replace Supreme Court judges with government nominees.
Three key judicial reforms have been passed by Poland's parliament, prompting days of demonstrations across the country.Three key judicial reforms have been passed by Poland's parliament, prompting days of demonstrations across the country.
Before they became law, they required approval by the president. Before they become law, they require approval by the president.
The changes have also set Poland's right-wing government on a collision course with the European Union.The changes have also set Poland's right-wing government on a collision course with the European Union.
The European Commission had threatened to impose sanctions this week if the reforms were not scrapped. European Council President Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, had warned of a "black scenario that could ultimately lead to the marginalisation of Poland in Europe".The European Commission had threatened to impose sanctions this week if the reforms were not scrapped. European Council President Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, had warned of a "black scenario that could ultimately lead to the marginalisation of Poland in Europe".
"As president I don't feel this law would strengthen a sense of justice," Mr Duda said in a statement broadcast on national television. Why did president step in?
He had already intervened last week in an attempt to find a compromise and the laws went through parliament at the weekend. But his latest step is seen as marking a potential constitutional showdown with the government. "As president I don't feel this law would strengthen a sense of justice," Mr Duda said in a statement broadcast on national television. "These laws must be amended."
The Law and Justice (PiS) government rejected claims that the reforms were a move towards authoritarian rule. He said he was vetoing two of the new laws but approving a third, which gives the justice minister the right to name the heads of Poland's lower courts.
The Law and Justice (PiS) government has strongly rejected claims that the reforms are a move towards authoritarian rule and has expressed disappointment at Mr Duda's decision to wield a veto.
Mr Duda had already intervened last week in an attempt to find a compromise and the laws went through parliament at the weekend.
But his latest step is seen as a surprise and marks a potential constitutional showdown with the government.
Mr Duda is himself a former member of the populist ruling party and he had already rejected a meeting on the crisis with Donald Tusk.
What's wrong with the reforms?
Poland's judicial system is widely seen as slow and reforms are seen as necessary. But these reforms give the justice minister and MPs broad powers and have prompted alarm from the US as well as the EU.
In his statement, the president said he regretted that a draft law on reforming the Supreme Court had not been handed to him before a vote in the lower house of parliament, the Sejm.
His initial compromise plan, backed by the government, meant that the ruling party would require the support of another political party to push through the nominees for the National Judiciary Council.
That panel would then nominate judges to sit on the Supreme Court.