Poland's political battle over state media continued Wednesday as the president filed a revised spending bill in defiance of the new pro-European Union government 's goal of freeing the media from political control. President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the previous right-wing government, had vetoed the new government’s bill that provided 3 billion zlotys ($762 million) for the public media.
Poland's parliament voted for a resolution seeking changes in the National Council of the Judiciary (NCJ), as the new government attempts to undo reforms by the previous administration that critics say politicised the courts. With the European Union having frozen billions of euros in funds earmarked for Poland, because of concern over the rule of law, the new pro-European Union coalition government has made it a priority to roll back the reforms. Wednesday's resolution said several resolutions forming part of the overhaul of the judicial system by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party were unconstitutional and called for what it called illegally appointed members of the NCJ to resign.
The new Polish government, led by Donald Tusk, officially took office on Dec. 13, marking the end of the eight-year rule of the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Tusk, who previously served two consecutive terms until 2014, returned with a commitment to mend Warsaw's ties with the EU and ease tensions with Kyiv, strained by conflicts over a grain embargo and a border blockade. While Tusk's comeback is seen as a potential source of stability for Ukraine, the ongoing economic disputes between Kyiv and Warsaw are expected to persist.
Poland's Constitutional Tribunal said on Monday that penalties imposed by the European Union's top court before it reaches a final ruling, known as interim measures, are not compatible with the Polish constitution, escalating a row over the rule of law. The ruling comes after the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which has been embroiled in numerous conflicts with Brussels since coming to power in 2015, lost its majority in parliament in an Oct. 15 election. Poland had to pay hundreds of millions of euros in fines in two cases where the Court of Justice of the European Union imposed interim measures - one regarding a row with Czech Republic over the Turow coal mine and another over a disciplinary chamber for judges.
Donald Tusk has been elected as Poland’s next prime minister after the government lost a vote of confidence, bringing an end to the conservative Law and Justice party’s eight years in power.