- Title: Demonstrators in Poland demand third veto from president
- Date: 24th July 2017
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (‪JULY 24, 2017‬) (REUTERS)‬ DEMONSTRATORS IN FRONT OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE HOLDING BANNER READING (Polish): "Free courts, free people." POLISH PRESIDENT, ANDRZEJ DUDA, ENTERING CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH PRESIDENT, ANDRZEJ DUDA, SAYING: "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, because the Sejm has made them linked." DUDA LEAVING CONFERENCE ROOM VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS IN FRONT OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE PEOPLE STANDING WITH CARDBOARD LETTERS SPELLING (Polish): "Constitution" (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, PAWEL CENINSKI, SAYING: "In my opinion the president did very well. You can see that slowly, at least that's my feeling, he is gaining autonomy, independence from (Law and Justice) chairman Kaczynski." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, IRENEUSZ, SAYING: "He (Duda) should veto all three bills. For one reason - the speed of legislation. If there had been a normal legal process one could have thought about it, but there was obviously great haste (to pass the bills), so I think all three should be vetoed." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, ANNA SEWERYN, SAYING: "We want three vetoes, as you can see here (pointing to graphic on shirt). This is what we are fighting for, for all courts to be free, independent from politicians. That is why he should veto three bills." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, ALEKSANDRA, SAYING: "Even if he (Duda) signs one of these bills, it is the end, we have an end to the separation of power in Poland." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) PROTESTER, BARBARA, SAYING: "I am very happy that he (Duda) vetoed two bills. There is an unsatisfied need regarding the bill on the organisation of common courts. Some progress can be seen, but we have to look what will be written in the bill that the president intends to write." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) ORGANIZER OF THE PROTESTS, PAWEL KASPRZAK, SAYING: "We expect several hundred trials, these are lawsuits by citizens against the state and judges in these trials, according to the third bill that wasn't mentioned by Duda, will be nominated by (Justice Minister Zbigniew) Ziobro, which obviously rules out any impartiality or independence." DEMONSTRATORS
- Embargoed: 7th August 2017 11:50
- Keywords: demonstrators veto judicial reform Andrzej Duda
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016R2TVT3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Demonstrators in Warsaw demanded that Polish President Andrzej Duda veto all three bills reforming the country's judiciary system, after his announcement on Monday (July 24) to veto two of them.
The announcement by Duda on Monday morning eased worries that the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party will undermine the division of powers, but left some hoping for more.
"He (Duda) should veto all three bills," said one demonstrator, Ireneusz.
"We want three vetoes," fellow protester Anna Seweryn said. "This is what we are fighting for, for all courts to be free, independent from politicians. That is why he should veto three bills."
The Polish currency zloty immediately rose against the euro, as investors saw the decision as lowering the political risk in Poland.
On Saturday (July 22), the upper house had given final approval to a bill that would remove all current Supreme Court judges immediately except those hand-picked by the justice minister.
Parliament had earlier passed a bill giving it the right to name most of the members of the National Council of the Judiciary, which would nominate future candidates for the president to appoint to the Supreme Court.
The overhaul of the judiciary, coupled with a drive by PiS to expand its powers in other areas, including control of the media, has provoked a crisis in relations with the European Union and sparked one of the biggest political conflicts since Poland overthrew communism in 1989.
For many days, tens of thousands of protesters have been gathering in cities including Warsaw, Krakow and Poznan for candle-lit vigils, demanding that Duda veto the reforms.
The opposition and most legal experts say the changes violate the Polish constitution. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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