- Title: Polish president unexpectedly vetoes judiciary reform
- Date: 24th July 2017
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (JULY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) POLISH PRESIDENT, ANDRZEJ DUDA, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE DUDA SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH PRESIDENT, ANDRZEJ DUDA, SAYING: "I regret that the proposed Supreme Court bill was not presented to me, the president of the republic, and due to this I could not have consulted this matter and the majority of entities of interest could not conduct consultations either. And that is why, ladies and gentlemen, the decision is as follows: namely I have decided that I will send back to Sejm (lower house of parliament), which means I will veto, the bill on the Supreme Court, as well as the one about the National Council of the Judiciary, because the Sejm has made them linked." DUDA SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH PRESIDENT, ANDRZEJ DUDA, SAYING: "Poland badly needs reform of the judiciary and I am a total supporter of this reform. But I support a smart reform, such that will guarantee good functioning of the judiciary and such that will raise the sense of justice in Poland. As president, I feel deep in my soul - and so this is my decision and my responsibility - that this reform will not raise the sense of security and justice." MEDIA DUDA LEAVING
- Embargoed: 7th August 2017 09:56
- Keywords: Poland judicial reform veto Andrzej Duda
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016R2TOP3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Monday (July 24) he will veto two of three bills reforming the country's judiciary system, easing worries that the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) will undermine the division of powers.
"I have decided that I will send back to the Sejm (lower house of parliament), which means I will veto, the bill on the Supreme Court, as well as the one about the National Council of the Judiciary," Duda said after days of mass street protests.
Polish currency zloty immediately rose against the euro, as investors saw the decision as lowering the political risk in Poland.
Observers say Duda's decision puts him at odds with the de facto leader of the country, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is the leader of PiS but has no formal government post. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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