- Title: Thousands protest after Polish lawmakers approve judiciary overhaul, defying EU
- Date: 21st July 2017
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (‪JULY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE STANDING AT THE FRONT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE PEOPLE SHOUTING: (Polish) "3 x VETO." CHILD SITTING ON THE FATHER'S SHOULDERS OPPOSITION LEADERS STANDING AT THE STAGE LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) OPPOSITION CIVIC PLATFORM PARTY'S LEADER, GRZEGORZ SCHETYNA, SAYING: "The person who lives here, (in the palace) behind us… has a great chance to show that he is the president of all Poles. He just needs to do one thing - to veto three bills. And today we tell him we want veto." PEOPLE SHOUTING, (Polish): "We want veto." PEOPLE SHOUTING, (Polish): "Constitution." HAND KEEPING THE CONSTITUTION (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) OPPOSITION NOWOCZESNA PARTY'S LEADER, RYSZARD PETRU, SAYING: "At the beginning they (ruling party) took over the media, then constitutional court and now courts. We cannot allow this because they will just keep going ahead. We have to show our power because they are only afraid of the people." WOMAN WITH THE WORD "VETO" WRITTEN ON HER DECOLLATE, SHOUTING, and (Polish): "We will win." PEOPLE WAVING POLISH AND EU FLAGS, SHOUTING, (Polish): "Constitution." WOMEN STANDING WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND THE CANDLES PEOPLE STANDING WITH POLISH FLAGS AND CANDLES WOMEN STANDING WITH CANDLES AND STICKERS ON THEIR SHIRTS STICKER, READING (Polish): "3 x Veto." PEOPLE MARCHING FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE TO THE PARLIAMENT PEOPLE PLAYING DRUMS, MARCHING WITH CANDLES (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, AGNIESZKA, SAYING: "It is not only about the courts, it is not only about the Supreme Court or the judges. These are also important, but PiS breaks the rules, breaks the constitution which has been accepted by the people in the referendum." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, ZBYSZEK, SAYING: "Elections took place democratically, but their governing breaks the law, breaks the constitution, so the democracy in Poland practically dies." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, ANDRZEJ, SAYING: "This (new laws on courts) is definitely a step in the wrong way. That is why we want president to veto these bills."
- Embargoed: 4th August 2017 01:28
- Keywords: Poland protest Law and Justice party (PiS) Polish lawmakers judiciary overhaul
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QNSRBB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tens of thousands of Poles protested on Thursday (July 20) against a new law that allows parliament to appoint Supreme Court judges, defying a European Union warning that the move undermines democracy and the rule of law.
The bill, sponsored by the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), was passed by parliament's lower house earlier in the day after tumultuous debate. That triggered one of the biggest protests since the PiS came to power in late 2015.
The vote came a day after the EU gave its largest formerly communist member state a week to shelve judicial reforms that Brussels says would put courts under direct government control.
Warsaw City Hall estimated the crowd at more than 50,000, while police put it at 14,000. Tens of thousands demonstrated in other Polish cities. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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