- Title: Poles mount mass Warsaw protest over supreme court overhaul
- Date: 22nd July 2017
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (‪JULY 22, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE STANDING AT THE FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT, SHOUTING (Polish): "We want veto." CHILD SITTING ON THE FATHER'S ARMS, WAVING EU FLAG VARIOUS PEOPLE SHOUTING (Polish): "We want veto." BANNER, READING (Polish): "3 x veto." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, KLARA, SAYING: "It is hard to expect something from the president because we saw him in other situations. I can only say what smarter person than me says - even if he wants to veto something he will be immediately on the carpet of the usual MP (Kaczynski)." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, ANDRZEJ, SAYING: "I think he should be here, in Warsaw and engage somehow in what is happening." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, KRZYSZTOF, SAYING: "I want our president to be a president, because he is not (a true) president so far. He is the party's functionary who does what his party expects. But we want him to guard the constitution on which he swore." PEOPLE STANDING AT THE FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT, SHOUTING (Polish): "We want veto." PEOPLE STANDING WITH THE BANNERS, READING (Polish): "Constitution" STICKER, READING (Polish): "Go to the (presidential) palace. 3 x veto." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE DEMOCRACY MEMBER, NAME NOT ASCERTAINED, SAYING: "You do not have to be obedient executor of someone's commands; commands of the man who, as he himself said, wants to jail his political opponents." WOMAN WAVING POLISH FLAG PROTESTERS UNFURLING LONG ROLL OF PAPER WITH SIGNATURES PETITIONING THE PRESIDENT SIGNATURES ON THE PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT PEOPLE STANDING AT THE FRONT OF JAROSLAW KACZYNSKI'S HOUSE CANDLES, BANNER, READING (Polish): "Constitution" (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, ZOSIA, SAYING: "I came here today because I know that the most important decisions in the country are made here. I brought the cat which can advise better solutions to Jaroslaw (Kaczynski). I hope he will finally see that we will not give up." WOMAN STANDING WITH THE CANDLE IN CROWD AT THE FRONT OF KACZYNSKI'S HOUSE PEOPLE STANDING AT THE FRONT OF KACZYNSKI'S HOUSE PEOPLE STANDING WITH THE CANDLES AT THE FRONT OF SUPREME COURT, SHOUTING (Polish): "Freedom, equality, democracy." VARIOUS PEOPLE STANDING WITH THE CANDLES AT THE FRONT OF SUPREME COURT
- Embargoed: 5th August 2017 23:59
- Keywords: Poland Supreme Court overhaul protest PiS ruling party judges
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QSTT1J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tens of thousands of protesters gathered across Poland for candle-lit vigils after senators of the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party agreed in the early hours of Saturday to a bill that would remove all Supreme Court judges except those hand-picked by the justice minister. Protesters demanded President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, veto the bill.
An opinion poll for private television TVN showed on Friday that 55 percent of respondents said Duda, who went for vacations despite the crisis, should veto the judicial overhaul, while 29 percent wanted him to sign it.
The overhaul of the judiciary, coupled with a drive by PiS to expand its powers in other areas, has provoked a crisis in relations with the European Union and sparked one of the biggest political conflicts since Poland overthrew communism in 1989.
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Warsaw villa of PiS head Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Poland's de facto leader, who holds no government post but is a member of parliament.
One of them brought cat-shaped balloon in reference to Kaczynski's love of cats. He lives alone with only a cat for company.
Peaceful demonstrations continued on Saturday evening in dozens of cities, including Warsaw, Krakow and Poznan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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