Poland’s rule-of-law conflict with the EU is coming to a head
Brussels must decide whether reforms leave politicians with too much power over judges
WHEN POLAND’S justice system went after Maciej Ferek, a regional-court judge in Krakow, it used a heavy hand. In late 2021 he was suspended, his pay was cut in half and the locks on the courtroom doors were changed to keep him out. His mistake had been to challenge the changes to the judiciary which Poland’s government has made over the past eight years. These have given politicians ultimate control over appointing and dismissing judges, muzzled those who dissent and stacked the Constitutional Tribunal with cronies.
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This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Judgment call”
Europe February 18th 2023
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- Turkey’s earthquakes show the deadly extent of construction scams
- Moldova fears it may fall victim to a Russian coup plot
- Poland’s rule-of-law conflict with the EU is coming to a head
- Trouble at Italy’s San Remo song festival
- What’s behind France’s fatal fascination with Russia
From the February 18th 2023 edition
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