Poland’s conservative President Andrzej Duda has accused the European Commission of double standards regarding violations of the rule of law in Poland. The rift between the Polish president and the new centrist government is deepening.
Duda made his comments after meeting European Justice Commissioner Vera Jourová at the Davos Economic Forum.
The Polish president expressed concern about the decision of the Polish government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk to replace the heads of public media, Euractiv writes.
“President Duda explained to me his position regarding changes in public media,” Jourova told Polish TV channel Polsat.
Duda also expressed his disappointment that the commission did not react to the arrest of two former ministers by police in the presidential palace.
Mariusz Kaminski and Maciej Wasik, ministers of the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, were convicted of abuse of office while serving as ministers, but PiS considers them political prisoners. Duda was a member of PiS until his election as president in 2015.
“I am surprised that the European Commission does not react to blatant violations of the rule of law in Poland,” Duda told reporters after the meeting.
Jourova’s comment confirms the Commission’s previous position.
“We are aware of the events in Poland. This is a national issue that needs to be resolved by the authorities in that country,” a European Commission spokesperson told Euractiv last week.
Jourova also stressed that the release of frozen European Union funds intended for Poland under the PiS government depends on the Polish authorities, who must demonstrate that the Polish judiciary is sufficiently independent that it does not endanger the European Union’s budgetary interests.
Although the Polish Minister of Justice already presented the bill on the reform of the judicial system last week, Duda can veto its adoption. However, the Polish coalition does not have the necessary 60% majority in the lower house of parliament to override the president’s veto.
The rift between the Polish government and the president could worsen after the Polish Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) arrested former PiS deputy foreign minister Piotr Wawrzyk on Wednesday on charges of abuse of power.
Wawrzyk is one of many suspects in a criminal case linked to the illegal issuance of around 250,000 Polish visas for the purpose of corruption, mainly to Asian and African citizens, Politico writes.
2024-01-18 15:33:00
the-polish-president-accused-the-european-commission-of-double-standards-foreign-country