I hope the Sejm will pass amendments to the Supreme Court bill next week; President Andrzej Duda will be happy if the deputies pass the law in the form he proposes or do not deviate much from it, the head of the president’s cabinet, Paweł Szrot, told PAP.
Among other things, the project provides for the liquidation of the Disciplinary Chamber. However, Solidarna Polska has comments about the project. On Wednesday, the committee supported the package of amendments proposed by Solidarna Polska, which, among other things, would remove the “test of a judge’s independence”. The committee was supposed to continue the meeting on Thursday, but it was cancelled. The head of the SP, Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, said on Friday that he was very close to reaching an agreement with PiS on the future shape of the Supreme Court law.
Szrot, when asked if Andrzej Duda was satisfied with the pace of work on amendments to the law in the Supreme Court, replied that “the President will be pleased when this draft, in the form he proposes, or deviates very slightly , is adopted by the Sejm.”
Asked whether he did not think the work on the changes was dragging on, the minister said that “it is clear that the majority of the Sejm has some problems with this”.
If everything has to be agreed, I think the president can wait for that. But I repeat: the sooner the better, because Poland is waiting for this law and waiting for the consequences of this law
– he pointed out.
When asked about Solidarna Polska’s doubts about the presidential project and whether talks were underway between the Chancellery of the President and Zbigniew Ziobro’s party, he replied that “The Chancellery is not passive and is actively seeking a majority and a compromise on this matter.”
I repeat: I am an optimist in this area. Poland is waiting for this law for many reasons
– he pointed out.
The minister expressed the hope that the law will be passed by the Sejm at its meeting next week.
I hope so
said Szrot.
The presidential draft provides for the liquidation of the Supreme Court Disciplinary Chamber; judges who rule therein would have the choice of moving to another chamber or retiring. A chamber of professional responsibility would be established in the Supreme Court. Of all the judges of the Supreme Court, with the exception of, for example, the presidents of the chambers of the Supreme Court, 33 people would be chosen at random, from whom the president would choose 11 judges in the Chamber of Professional Indemnity for a term of office of five years. The draft proposes an institution known as the “test of impartiality and independence of a judge”, which gives every citizen – as the president noted – the right to have their case examined by an impartial and independent court.
On Friday, the head of the justice committee, Marek Ast (PiS), announced on Polish Radio 24 that he is planning a committee meeting next week. He also expressed his belief that the draft liquidation of the Disciplinary Chamber will be adopted at the next session of the Sejm, which is scheduled for the end of May.
The need for changes to the Supreme Court Disciplinary Chamber is related to the fact that in the summer of 2021 the Court of Justice of the EU obliged Poland to apply the provisions regarding the powers of the Supreme Court Disciplinary Chamber in cases such as: waiver of the immunity of judges. For non-compliance with this decision, the CJEU has fined Poland EUR 1 million per day.
The European Commission has still not approved the National Reconstruction Plan, which was submitted by the government more than a year ago, namely a document describing how funds from the EU Reconstruction Fund are spent. At the end of October last year, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, made it a condition that the Polish KPO must oblige the government to liquidate the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court.
Obligations under the KPO
EC spokeswoman Veerle Nuyts told PAP on Wednesday that Poland’s National Reconstruction Plan must include commitments to: liquidate the Supreme Court Disciplinary Chamber, reform the disciplinary system, reinstate judges unlawfully dismissed. We have cooperated with Poland on all three points and are satisfied with the results of the interviews. Now we are waiting for confirmation from Poland – said Nuyts.
On Friday, government spokesman Piotr Müller said the KPO should be formally approved within days; on Wednesday, the work of the negotiating teams on the KPO was completed. Poland and the European Commission have reached an agreement on “milestones” – he added.
mly / PAP
Source: wPolityce
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.