26/11/2024 Monitoring
Ending a fact-finding visit to Warsaw, PACE co-rapporteur for the monitoring of Poland Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC) has strongly welcomed the reforms initiated by the authorities to ensure the independence of the judiciary in Poland and to implement the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights in this regard. At the same time, she insisted that these reforms should be in full compliance with European rule of law standards and norms in order to rebuild trust in an independent judiciary and to overcome increasing polarisation within the justice system. “The rule of law can only be restored in compliance with the exigencies of the rule of law itself. The various Venice Commission opinions on these reforms have given clear recommendations in this regard that should be fully addressed,” said Ms Rojhan.
Ms Rojhan expressed concern at the deeply engrained polarisation in the country, not only in the political environment but also within the judiciary itself. She deplored that this polarisation, combined with the refusal by President Duda to sign any reforms into law and the politicisation of the Constitutional Tribunal, are affecting the very system of checks and balances in the country. “This situation is not sustainable and needs to be addressed urgently by all stakeholders,” said Ms Rojhan.
The PACE Monitoring Committee, at its meeting in Tirana on 2 December 2024, will hold a hearing on reforms of the Polish judiciary and the questions that are raised in this context with the participation of the Minister of Justice and the Ombudsperson of Poland, among others.