Polish MPs in heated debate over rules on Constitutional Tribunal

Radio Poland reported that a parliamentary committee in the Polish Parliament decided on the 5 July 2016 to back a bill on reforms to the Constitutional Tribunal based on proposals put forward by Poland's governing Law and Justice (PiS) party, rejecting proposals submitted by the opposition.

Commentators suggested that the bill was being rushed through in advance of NATO Summit being held in Warsaw on the 8-9 July 2016. However, US President Obama expressed reservations over the developments in discussions with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda on the 8 July 2016.

Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, said that he was 'very concerned at the adoption by the Polish Sejm of a bill on the Constitutional Tribunal ... because it poses a serious threat to the rule of law'.

• Primary Source

EU Observer, 08.07.16: Obama: Poland should do more to solve judicial crisis https://euobserver.com/political/134266

ESO: Background information: Commission adopts Rule of Law Opinion on the situation in Poland http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-adopts-rule-of-law-opinion-on-the-situation-in-poland/

Politico, 08.07.16: Poland tries to end constitutional crisis ahead of NATO summit http://www.politico.eu/article/poland-tries-to-end-constitutional-crisis-ahead-of-nato-summit/

ESO: Background information: Anti-government march to commemorate 4 June anniversary http://www.europeansources.info/record/anti-government-march-to-commemorate-4-june-anniversary/

The New York Times, 08.07.16: Obama Rebukes Poland’s Right-Wing Government http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/09/world/europe/obama-poland-nato-summit.html?_r=0

Council of Europe: Commissioner for Human Rights: View, 08.07.16: Poland: Commissioner concerned about bill on the Constitutional Tribunal https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/poland-commissioner-concerned-about-bill-on-the-constitutional-tribunal

Council of Europe: Commissioner for Human Rights: Visit Report, 15.06.16: Erosion of rule of law threatens human rights protection in Poland https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/erosion-of-rule-of-law-threatens-human-rights-protection-in-poland

Blog: Verfassungsblog, 15.07.16: What is Going on in Poland is an Attack against Democracy http://verfassungsblog.de/what-is-going-on-in-poland-is-an-attack-against-democracy/

Radio Poland, 18.07.16: Venice Commission to postpone opinion on bill on Poland's Constitutional Tribunal http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/262297,Venice-Commission-to-postpone-opinion-on-bill-on-Polands-Constitutional-Tribunal

Radio Poland: Tag: Constitutional Tribunal http://www.thenews.pl/1/3/Tematy/123598

---