Mixed reactions after Polish president vetoes controversial judicial reform bills

The decision of Polish President Andrzej Duda, who surprised the observers on Monday by announcing that he would veto two of three controversial bills put forward by the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) and passed by both houses of Polish parliament last week, calls into question the future of judicial reforms.

The proposed reforms prompted large-scale protests across the whole country.

On Monday, Duda announced he would veto two bills aimed at reorganizing the Supreme Court and the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS). He would, however, sign the third act -- the common courts bill.

Duda undermined the huge powers over deciding on Supreme Court' judges appointment and the Court's internal regulations given to the prosecutor general.

He also emphasized that the legislation cannot raise so much controversies. He announced he would return the vetoed bills to the Sejm and that he would draft two new pieces of legislation within two months with the help of experts.

During his evening public address, Duda also added that while the laws on the Supreme Court and the National Council of Judiciary largely met social expectations, he could not accept them as they needed changes to ensure compliance with the constitution.

Crowds gathered outside the presidential palace on Monday enthusiastically reacted to President's decision by waving Polish flags and chanting "thank you!"

Hundreds of people protested over the planned judiciary reforms around the country throughout the whole weekend. Many, however, still feel dissatisfied with the lack of the third veto of the common courts act, including both common citizens and the main opposition party Civic Platform.

Polish PM, Beata Szydlo, in her radio and TV address on Monday evening said however that the president vetoing bills had slowed down reform of the country's judicial system.

She stressed that Polish people had been wronged by the judicial system and pointed out that apart from slowing the needed reforms, the veto "has been treated as an incentive by those fighting to uphold the unfair system" and announced that the government would "not stray from the beaten path of repairing the state".

While the Polish government claimed the President's decision "difficult to understand", The Council of Europe has expressed its satisfaction over the veto.

Daniel Holtgen, the Director of Communications at the Council of Europe, said it was good that the laws would not come into force in their present shape and declared that the Council of Europe was ready to offer assistance in creating new bills.

The PiS proposed splitting the Supreme Court into three chambers, changing appointment regulations for its judges and retiring its present judges. The bill was passed by Sejm on July 20 and by the Senat on July 22.

The reform bills stirred up controversies, not only in Poland, but also abroad. The European Commission had expressed "grave concern" for "the clear risks for the independence of the judiciary" in Poland, saying it would take legal action against Warsaw.

Source: xinhua