This is a right decision. The rulling party's proposal gave enormous prerogatives to the minister of justice, who has already been made a general prosecutor and who would be now empowered,if president didn't veto it, to nominate or dimsiss members of the Supreme Court. Even in communist times minister of justice was not invested with such powers! Actually this would be the end of constitutional democracy. On the other hand,and this should be taken into account, Polish constitution needs amendments as it does not precisely specify competences of the branches of power. This is discernible when you read, for example, American or French constitution. As regards Polish judiciary, this is pretty ineffective - a large number of adjudications are challenged and finally referred to the European Tribunal of Justice, which pronounces verdicts unfavourable to Poland. Enormous money is paid as a compensation to the suing parties from the budget. Given this, like president said, some reforms are necessary, but not the ones Law and Justice (?) tried to implement.
3
Yeah, imagine trying to place the supreme courts under political control, like the GOP's been doing for decades now!
If you do that, you end up with a SCOTUS full of fanatical extremists beholden to one political viewpoint!
Not balanced centrists like Alito, Scalia, Thomas...ermm.
If you do that, you end up with a SCOTUS full of fanatical extremists beholden to one political viewpoint!
Not balanced centrists like Alito, Scalia, Thomas...ermm.
3
Duda and Trump are both cut from the same cloth, of the same ilk as far as their ultra-right philosophies. There is one difference, however. For days, weeks even, Polish citizens have been protesting en masse to the law that would have threatened their Supreme Court justices and their system of justice. Duda listened to his people, and vetoed the law. Now let us juxtapose what we as a country are going through, specifically our right to affordable and encompassing health care. We already know the answer re who seems to be the better man between the above two. The question is: What has happened to our country that we now need to look beyond our shores for examples of democracy?
3
Such a travesty of dimocracy could never happen in the USA, which is now a one-party dictatorship. Ghettoes will soon follow. Mark my words.
2
Which is the one party?
We've had ghettos for years-they're called American inner cities?
We've had ghettos for years-they're called American inner cities?
2
Their ambitions were too great and vetoing the 3rd bill will be the test of his "maverickyness".
2
I don't for a minute believe that Duda vetoed on his own. Kaczynski got scared, told Duda to veto it to keep up the illusion of democracy and a separation of powers. There is no independent thought allowed under this government. Kaczyński holds all the cards. If Duda remains as President, we'll know he is still a puppet and there is a long road ahead.
I just hope people don't go home. Power to the People. Now if only they would join the teachers and nurses and other workers when they go on strike, attack poverty, women's rights, price rises and all the other authoritarian policies they're voting on, we could be seeing the start of something big.
I just hope people don't go home. Power to the People. Now if only they would join the teachers and nurses and other workers when they go on strike, attack poverty, women's rights, price rises and all the other authoritarian policies they're voting on, we could be seeing the start of something big.
4
I disagree. A week ago Duda was still a puppet to me, but I think he woke up to the fact that these are events with historical/lasting ramifications. Maybe he doesn't want to go down in history along with Kaczynski's mad populism and petty vindictivness. Maybe he got scared by the popular protests. In any case to prove my point the real puppet, Szydlo (PM) suddenly came up with a TV address at the PiS controlled State TV, by coincident at the time of Duda's TV address, meaning the party is using their propaganda apparatus to speak over him/discredit him. PiS is Panicking and getting scared. Good.
7
Kaczynski and those like-minded from what is left of his generation will fight this anti-communist cultural crusade until they die. This has nothing to do with the deprivations of communism. It is nothing but petty political vindictiveness that motivates the PiS more than twenty-five years after the collapse of the ussr.
The struggle is over, and democracy won, but instead of moving on (because, let's face it, the commies are NOT coming back) they will not stop. They will consider anyone from that era in any position of power who is not pathologically catholic and ultra-conservative to be unfit for their position and try to have them removed. They will lump in with them real or perceived liberals and any non-religiously motivated individuals and any other enemies who pop up along the way. They are utilizing all the political mechanisms available to stack the deck against these "communists" and anyone not as holy as themselves to seize power they do not deserve and should not be able to wield. And just like American "republicans," they will find themselves in a political wasteland once the tables turn. And they will turn. For Kaczynski's generation will soon be eclipsed by a generation who has no stake in this petty, personal political/cultural crusade and Poland can then move on.
The struggle is over, and democracy won, but instead of moving on (because, let's face it, the commies are NOT coming back) they will not stop. They will consider anyone from that era in any position of power who is not pathologically catholic and ultra-conservative to be unfit for their position and try to have them removed. They will lump in with them real or perceived liberals and any non-religiously motivated individuals and any other enemies who pop up along the way. They are utilizing all the political mechanisms available to stack the deck against these "communists" and anyone not as holy as themselves to seize power they do not deserve and should not be able to wield. And just like American "republicans," they will find themselves in a political wasteland once the tables turn. And they will turn. For Kaczynski's generation will soon be eclipsed by a generation who has no stake in this petty, personal political/cultural crusade and Poland can then move on.
7
Kudos to Poland, it's courageous people and especially Andrzej Duda.
What a heart warming example of Democracy working as it was intended.
What a heart warming example of Democracy working as it was intended.
9
This presidential veto, like the abandonment of a bill to outlaw all abortions, shows that the Polish government of the Law and Justice party is not immune to public protest. Poland's National Council of the Judiciary (and similar bodies in other European countries) serve to partially insulate judicial appointments from politics. Contrast that with the federal judiciary in the United States, where judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, a wholly political process, as the recent delay of a year in confirming a Supreme Court justice has shown.
8
Most of the comments consider the veto a good thing. That is true only if you miss what he didn't veto. Kaczynski gets complete control over what the Times calls 'local' courts and that's good? A bully 'only' spits on you instead of throwing a punch so that's OK?
9
This is democracy at work. It warms my heart to know the Polish people are out there, unafraid to stand up for what's right. And it helps to have a reasonable president in power of course who understands the country's role in the EU, etc.
3
Advisory from a Polish friend: "The professional group that needed the most scrupulous accounting for its previous deeds was the judiciary. In 1940's and 1950's and then again in the 1980's it was involved in judicial acts of terror that resulted in thousands of people executed by judicial murder, and perhaps millions being terrorized, losing their jobs and being unable to find another. But the line of judges that were brought to office by Stalinist authorities was allowed to stay, on the premise that “the group will clean up its act.” It never happened."
An adviser to Mr. Duda is quoted by NYT: "Mr. President, I lived in a state where the general prosecutor could do virtually anything, and I wouldn’t like to come back to this state.”
Given such background, attention and action toward reform is arguably necessary.
An adviser to Mr. Duda is quoted by NYT: "Mr. President, I lived in a state where the general prosecutor could do virtually anything, and I wouldn’t like to come back to this state.”
Given such background, attention and action toward reform is arguably necessary.
7
Good news, bad news for us who were spending last two weeks shouting our throats hoarse in all-night protests here, while trying to attend other duties and jobs daytime. Many sleep-deprived exhausted people.
Good news the protest had SOME effect. Many people despaired about "whatever we do, it still does not count". Many people were readying for possible repressions, for their escalating into actions the government would have to react to.
Bad news is that there is fewer clear-and-visible targets to protest. Dissolving the Supreme Court was a clear case to pull people out on the streets. Muddy procedural rules (those were NOT vetoed) giving the government effective control over the courts - not that easy to convince an average Smith (ok, Kowalski) that this is HIS fight. Until enough Kowalskis get hit by tyranny firsthand - which potentially means many years lost.
Enemies of liberal democracy are learning to hide dictatorships in "second digit after the decimal point" subtleties.
Good news the protest had SOME effect. Many people despaired about "whatever we do, it still does not count". Many people were readying for possible repressions, for their escalating into actions the government would have to react to.
Bad news is that there is fewer clear-and-visible targets to protest. Dissolving the Supreme Court was a clear case to pull people out on the streets. Muddy procedural rules (those were NOT vetoed) giving the government effective control over the courts - not that easy to convince an average Smith (ok, Kowalski) that this is HIS fight. Until enough Kowalskis get hit by tyranny firsthand - which potentially means many years lost.
Enemies of liberal democracy are learning to hide dictatorships in "second digit after the decimal point" subtleties.
12
Szafran, well put and accurate: 'Enemies of liberal democracy are learning to hide dictatorships in "second digit after the decimal point" subtleties.' Witness Hungary, India, Turkey, to name the most obvious.
3
This is an encouraging step, but Poland isn't out of the woods given the immense power Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his party still hold. But for a little while, the Polish people will get a reprieve.
6
For all those referring to Putin (either positive or negative), the real real power in Poland lies with the PiS 'chairman' Jaroslaw Kaczynski. The chairman wants to cleanup the govt. and corporation from former Communist cadres and build an ultra-right-wing theocracy which he calls the 'fourth republic'.
This being the situation, Andrej "the notary" Duda's independence is a real big deal.
Probably, he and Kaczynski would both realize that they need the EU checkbook and have to suck to its needs of 'checks and balances'.
This being the situation, Andrej "the notary" Duda's independence is a real big deal.
Probably, he and Kaczynski would both realize that they need the EU checkbook and have to suck to its needs of 'checks and balances'.
3
"The Polish Supreme Court is packed with former communists and liberals...:"
And so what might be the problem? That one WAS a "communist" or IS NOW a "liberal?" Because if you disagree with these judges because of that you are nothing but a closed-minded ideologue. Perhaps more than just a bit paranoid. And determined to stack the deck in the courts in your favor by continuing to fight the same old anti-communist/liberal/freemason/semetic/homosexual...... crusade claiming these people are not fit for their jobs because of that.
And so what might be the problem? That one WAS a "communist" or IS NOW a "liberal?" Because if you disagree with these judges because of that you are nothing but a closed-minded ideologue. Perhaps more than just a bit paranoid. And determined to stack the deck in the courts in your favor by continuing to fight the same old anti-communist/liberal/freemason/semetic/homosexual...... crusade claiming these people are not fit for their jobs because of that.
3
So Duda finally found his spine? Or is it part of an elaborate plot by PiS and Kaczynski? Was the third law what Kaczynski really wanted to get through all along?
5
The Duda does not abide!
1
I am so delighted for the people of Poland that their President stood up for their democracy, and not allow Poland to become another fascist government.
It's a shame we don't have a President protecting our country, our democracy, who is working very hard to make our once great nation a fascist nation.
Duda and Macron give me hope this trend towards fascism will not continue. However, if I were Duda, I would make sure I had the best security possible.
It's a shame we don't have a President protecting our country, our democracy, who is working very hard to make our once great nation a fascist nation.
Duda and Macron give me hope this trend towards fascism will not continue. However, if I were Duda, I would make sure I had the best security possible.
6
Great news!
1
Good for the clear-headed Poles for taking to the streets and making this a huge issue. Very dangerous attempt by the government, but it seems they have still gotten some of what they wanted. The Poles need to keep the pressure on, just as we do here in the US. If Trump starts firing people in the Justice Dept, I am taking to the streets wherever and whenever possible.
7
This is a positive step against an authoritarian paranoid government but still a loss more than a win as Kaczynski now can control local courts. While he and his party use fear to justify their return to a one-party state, a lot is needed to keep Poland from the corruption and abuse it resisted so long against the Nazis and Soviets.
2
Thank god there is some sense in the world, at least some.
1
Go ahead; once again, be distracted like velociraptors in the kitchen in Jurassic Park! Duda's need to veto is far more important than his actual veto. The proposed laws are defeated but the impulse behind them is gaining strength. Law and Justice will have their New Order in a different way. There is nothing here to stop Trump and there is nothing in Poland to stop Law and Justice from metastasizing. As America daily demonstrates: Democracy cannot function as a fist fight.
6
Good for the Polish people! They have fought and given blood and effort for decades to establish their democracy. Their resistance to installing effectively a one party dictatorship speaks volumes about the values the huge majority of the country hold. I was in Warsaw in 2015 and was so impressed with the people, the energy and the obvious pride they have for their heritage and institutions. The U.S & the European Union need this important ally on Russia's western border.
3
Wow. It seems like someone in the government there has some sense to do what is right. And political courage. This is going to set him against the whole of the current ruling coalition.
3
The current law states that judges for the supreme court are selected by judges from the supreme court. Do you imagine that
in the US the conservative majority in the supreme court would select judges for the same court?
in the US the conservative majority in the supreme court would select judges for the same court?
5
Having judges select judges is much, much better than having politicians select judges. Would you prefer a physician to select the doctor to treat your cancer or would you rather the choice of your doctor be made by a politician?
1
DO YOU KNOW WHO APPOINTS THE JUDGES OF OTHER COUNTRIES SUPREME COURTS ?
GERMANY
The President following a motion from the minister and committee on judges election (comprising all ministers of justice from all the 16 lands/regions and representatives chosen by the Bundestag)
NETHERLANDS
The King following a motion from the House of Representatives
BELGIUM
The King following a motion from the Belgian Federal Parliament
LUXEMBOURG
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg
CANADA
The Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Minister of Justice compiles for the Prime Minister a shortlist of candidates with input from the provincial law societies.
USA
The Supreme Court of the United States consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Most presidents nominate candidates who broadly share their ideological views, although a justice's decisions may end up being contrary to a president's expectations. Because the Constitution sets no qualifications for service as a justice, a president may nominate anyone to serve, subject to Senate confirmation.
GERMANY
The President following a motion from the minister and committee on judges election (comprising all ministers of justice from all the 16 lands/regions and representatives chosen by the Bundestag)
NETHERLANDS
The King following a motion from the House of Representatives
BELGIUM
The King following a motion from the Belgian Federal Parliament
LUXEMBOURG
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg
CANADA
The Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Minister of Justice compiles for the Prime Minister a shortlist of candidates with input from the provincial law societies.
USA
The Supreme Court of the United States consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Most presidents nominate candidates who broadly share their ideological views, although a justice's decisions may end up being contrary to a president's expectations. Because the Constitution sets no qualifications for service as a justice, a president may nominate anyone to serve, subject to Senate confirmation.
9
it's not the hiring, but the firing that is the problem. if you can fire a judge, how independent he or she can be?
Within past year numerous Polish judges of various courts/levels/locations were caught/video recorded/ STEALING various goods, electronics being the most popular - why to pay for a pen-drive if you can put several into your pockets and walk out of the store without paying ?
Current law has NO provision for firing. Would you like your court case of any kind to be decided by a stealing judge, who steals whatever he feels like (or breaks the laws of the country), since he cannot be punished ?
The chief judge has stated (recordings are available) that Polish judges/lawyers are a "PRINCELY special cast" of the society, therefore they cannot be overseen by anybody. Do you imagine such situations in the US?
Current Polish "legal" system is the LAST remnant of the SOVIET machinery, never went through a review !!!
Current law has NO provision for firing. Would you like your court case of any kind to be decided by a stealing judge, who steals whatever he feels like (or breaks the laws of the country), since he cannot be punished ?
The chief judge has stated (recordings are available) that Polish judges/lawyers are a "PRINCELY special cast" of the society, therefore they cannot be overseen by anybody. Do you imagine such situations in the US?
Current Polish "legal" system is the LAST remnant of the SOVIET machinery, never went through a review !!!
6
I watched the VICE News report about the April referendum in Turkey, transferring massive new powers to the presidency. A lot of Turkish people think the west hates them, because Erdogan tells them so all the time and so does their media, which is state controlled. He convinced around half the people of Turkey that foreign countries were trying to split Turkey up and only he could save the nation. These nationalist movements are just vehicles for totalitarians to grab power. The are promoted and sometimes funded by Vladimir Putin to weaken the west. Congratulations President Duda, and more so, congratulations to the people of Poland for standing up for democracy.
6
Despite Duda's vetoes, local judiciaries will be placed under partisan political control, continuing Poland's march toward tyranny, but at a slower pace.
I did not believe President Duda would have felt it was politically expedient to make these decisions, but I'm very pleasantly surprised that he did. Kaczynski's threat, through his representative, to never forgive Duda is telling of the coming political fighting that's bound to flare up even more in Poland over the coming months and years. My congratulations to Duda and the more moderate political forces in Poland for making a more sound decision about the future of their judiciary.
10
You are missing the reality. Kaczynski gets to dictate lower (local) court rulings with zero limitations. Preventing him from complete dictatorship powers is certainly good but spinning the veto as a moderate move is absurd. Yes it could have been worse but congratulations for cutting off a healthy limb? Really?
2
People like the rather undereducated Kaczynski do not belong in government where the ability to agree and make difficult decisions is always a possibility. Kaczynski threat to never forgive is nothing by stubborn grandstanding.
Let's see … Didn't our boy – Vlanald Trump – go to Poland offering his praise and support for Duda in an effort to bolster the Polish leader's right-wing anti-democratic bonafides? [Trump was even heard to sing a line from Stephen Foster's 1850s song – you know, "De Camptown ladies sing this song, Doo-da, Doo-da" – into the First Lady's ear, he was so excited.]
While in Poland, Trump's efforts to paint the impending demise of Western Civilization can be summed up in a quote from his alt-right populist-style rhetoric: “The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive.”
As the demonstrations in Poland show, even these oppressive right-wing elected politicians are indeed forced occasionally to heed the united voices of the people who want democracy and freedom.
Lech Walesa, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who led the Solidarity movement that toppled communism a quarter-century ago, called the Duda decision to back-off of the totalitarian proposal to control the Polish judiciary “difficult and courageous.” I call it the Polish people's will!
I hope and trust we Americans can be so brave and forceful in the face of Trump's efforts to ban our democracy and freedoms!
While in Poland, Trump's efforts to paint the impending demise of Western Civilization can be summed up in a quote from his alt-right populist-style rhetoric: “The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive.”
As the demonstrations in Poland show, even these oppressive right-wing elected politicians are indeed forced occasionally to heed the united voices of the people who want democracy and freedom.
Lech Walesa, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who led the Solidarity movement that toppled communism a quarter-century ago, called the Duda decision to back-off of the totalitarian proposal to control the Polish judiciary “difficult and courageous.” I call it the Polish people's will!
I hope and trust we Americans can be so brave and forceful in the face of Trump's efforts to ban our democracy and freedoms!
60
I hope the decent people of the US will band together into the Citizens' Army to clean the anti Freedom group out of this country. I suggest they would be much happier in Siberia, working in coal mines. Putin always needs more miners since so many die at his hands.
Has anyone noticed that over the Fourth of July, several big companies came out with bunches of Patriotic T-shirts, all focusing on Freedom. The one I saw that felt like a punch in the gut was of Uncle Sam holding the American Eagle like a baby, he looks sad. The Eagle said, "Can you tell me another story about Freedom?" When the Greatest symbol of Freedom in this country, the Eagle, has to ask for stories, we are in trouble. Haven't found it in my size. However I did get a few others that all mention Freedom. Thanks Walmart & Sears for siding with We the People.
Has anyone noticed that over the Fourth of July, several big companies came out with bunches of Patriotic T-shirts, all focusing on Freedom. The one I saw that felt like a punch in the gut was of Uncle Sam holding the American Eagle like a baby, he looks sad. The Eagle said, "Can you tell me another story about Freedom?" When the Greatest symbol of Freedom in this country, the Eagle, has to ask for stories, we are in trouble. Haven't found it in my size. However I did get a few others that all mention Freedom. Thanks Walmart & Sears for siding with We the People.
It is laws like this that make me wonder if the ultra right politicians have any brains at all. They just look at the laws as 'we will control everybody, especially 'them'. Don't they realize that some time the government will either change hands, giving that power into their enemies (the so called 'other side'), or they will attempt to turn all Poles into slaves to them. Which obviously would then create a civil war they would lose? It is what 'he' wants for here, & will keep going until he pushes WE the People into the Second Civil War, or maybe the Second Revolutionary War, with the Citizens' Army. Stupid is as stupid does. How prophetic Forest Gump was.
Lech Walesa is a traitor, an agent for soviet run Urzad Bezpieczenstwa (UB = Polish KGB, or Staasi), and was paid for years for reporting on his anti-commie govt colleagues mostly from Solidarity. B/c of this many were arrested, imprisoned, lost any means of support (blackballed re: employment). He ruined lives of so many who helped him. The man is totally UNEDUCATED, has a serious drinking problem, but w/HUUUGE EGO! He stated himself officially that whenever his wife wanted smthg (as new washing machine), he would go to the KGB with another report on someone - which he considered the proof how difficult his life was, and, that he HAD to do it. He also said he was telling his wife he won LOTTO again - subject of merciless satire in Poland. He is NOT considered ANY hero in Poland for quite a while, but a communist govt plant, who ultimately SOLD the Solidarity and Polish nation's sacrifice at the 'round table" in 1989.
All of this was documented with his UB dossier, which although he had destroyed in the govt archives while a PL president, had a HARD copy in the private archives of Gen. Kiszczak, a long term PL/soviet backed PL minister of the Interior. Once Kiszczak died several years ago, his widow who was nervous of being assassinated b/c of these voluminous Kiszczak files on all the VIPs, made them public, and wanted to SELL them to the then already "non-communist "govt.
The Polish "legal" system is the LAST remnant of the SOVIET machinery, never went through review !!!
All of this was documented with his UB dossier, which although he had destroyed in the govt archives while a PL president, had a HARD copy in the private archives of Gen. Kiszczak, a long term PL/soviet backed PL minister of the Interior. Once Kiszczak died several years ago, his widow who was nervous of being assassinated b/c of these voluminous Kiszczak files on all the VIPs, made them public, and wanted to SELL them to the then already "non-communist "govt.
The Polish "legal" system is the LAST remnant of the SOVIET machinery, never went through review !!!
4
A much needed victory for democracy.
41
Wow! The rt. wing extremist government faction in Poland was stopped in their tracks. Hope it lasts. Was Putin involved in this attempted takeover? Probably. He would love to control Poland. Trump would love to do the same gruesome thing in the US.
We must impeach him and his.
We must impeach him and his.
30
No, the far right in Poland are very anti-Russia, the afterlife of years of abuse by the USSR. Many in the party maintain the conspiracy theory that the Russians secretly caused the plane crash in 2010 that killed many Polish government officials, including the president.
6
That's true but it is not at all clear that openly anti-Russian attitudes based on stoking of emotions are conducive to greater Polish national security.
1
Good cop, bad cop.
To take direct control over the judiciary would've gone too far, and would've precipitated a backlash. But to have control over the lower courts and what cases those judges can hear is an important victory. This is hardly a major setback for the Polish far-right.
The opposition are fools if they think this is the end.
To take direct control over the judiciary would've gone too far, and would've precipitated a backlash. But to have control over the lower courts and what cases those judges can hear is an important victory. This is hardly a major setback for the Polish far-right.
The opposition are fools if they think this is the end.
23
How strange and how refreshing
to have a president stand up for the rule of law.
America, where art thou?
to have a president stand up for the rule of law.
America, where art thou?
22
It's official, the EU is now the one and only standard bearer for liberal democracy as a governing system.
I hope we can re-join the team soon!
I hope we can re-join the team soon!
27
WE can If we are willing to fight for it. We were back in 1775. But, sorry to say I'm beginning to think too many Americans are to cowardly to fight for our country, they would rather sit & whine.
1
So many of the media who write about Poland ignore her culture, economy, geopolitics, history, language and leadership in central Europe. The Polish Supreme Court is packed with former communists and liberals, just the way US President Obama appointed so many liberal federal judges who ignored the US Constitution and were rebuked when the US Supreme Court over turned their liberal block of his travel ban to safeguard the US borders. The reporting on Poland is myopic fake false news that most Poles, especially the conservative and traditionalist voters who are in the majority today understand and just ignore, much like Americans who could not care less about what the East Coast liberal snowflake media promote.
12
i agree. most media writes about Poland following only one side of the story and thus really turning off many in the country and without. from the publication of this statuture, we expect more than comparing Kaczynski to Putin, which doesn't make any sense to anyone who knows what happened on April 10, 2010.
4
I suggest doctor that you start saving every penny, so after 'he' gets the 'Health' Insurance Tax Roll Back he wants, you will be forced to work for the state at $1 an hour, & not allowed to retire until 90, living in the inner city & told to lose 98% of your patients or you will lose your license, lose you license means you will never make even one cent ever again. Once it happens the most important thing in your practice will be how many you kill. Not saving lives. Oh no more malpractice suits, but, spending 10 years as a prison doctor (with your own cell) for every patient you save (only allowed to have 'his' base as patients & they all MUST die). Or go be a miner in Russia. Hope you like leaky shacks in Siberia, & indoor snow. Your off hours as a miner (15 hours a day) will be doctoring according to Putin's requirements for dead bodies for another 5 hours. The rest is food, getting clothes & self clean, shoveling snow, shopping for necessities you can never afford enough of, & oh yes, sleep.
Care to explain how can the courts be full of former communists if the average age of a Polish judge is 38?
And while we're at communists, how do you feel about the fact that the attack on the Third Republic's Highest Court and Constitutional Tribunal was lead in Parliament by a confirmed communist and Martial State prosecutor Stanisław Piotrowicz that sent dissidents (incl. Antoni Pikul) to prison in the eighties?
And while we're at communists, how do you feel about the fact that the attack on the Third Republic's Highest Court and Constitutional Tribunal was lead in Parliament by a confirmed communist and Martial State prosecutor Stanisław Piotrowicz that sent dissidents (incl. Antoni Pikul) to prison in the eighties?
1
Just for the record, there already is at least one other country where politicians pick and approve members of the Judiciary with no input from other Justices.
This one.
This one.
19
One thing is for a president to appoint a new judge as a replacement, and it is entirely different if he fired ALL of the Supreme Court Judges and appoint his picks instead.
3
When FDR tried to pack the Supreme Court by increasing the number of justices he was foiled by none other than the Democratic chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Those were the days when legislators knew their duty and didn't steal judicial appointments as McConnell does.
Republican senators, take note. You can stand up against tyranny, even when it means standing up against your own party.
30
If only they wanted to.
They are trying to get rid of laws against looting the country as we speak.
They are trying to get rid of laws against looting the country as we speak.
1
At least Duda recognized the two laws for the danger they posed to democracy. Nonetheless, his signing off third law for the local courts presents troubling issues. Local politicians who are corrupt may get a free pass. It may be a case of starting from the bottom and working your way up. I hope the Poles listen to Welesa and continue to protest against the slow erosion of democracy.
17
Poland will never listen to its former President, whether he justifiably received the Nobel Prize or not.
1
You need to learn that protests are a waste of time, except for those you are protesting against. They arrest you, take most of your money for their slush funds, then tell your employers you are 'enemies of the state'. In fact, it won't take long to have them make any comments not glowing with love about their regime a criminal act. That will be right after 'he' declares a state of emergency, martial law, suspends the constitution, & declares there is no longer any Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom from want, & Freedom from fear; along with the 2nd Amendment, & orders to bring ALL your arms (not just firearms, but bows, swords, knives, etc)to the police station, as they are dangerous. Good kitchen knife sets will disappear too. Which won't matter because all meat will disappear for anyone under the Upper Middle Class. There will be unflavored tofu for the lower classes (anyone under Upper Middle Class). You won't have to worry about Health Insurance. It will be illegal for you to buy it. Even if your wages haven't been cut by 3/4, & mandatory political donations to the ruling class aren't taken right out of your pay. That includes everyone under the top 1%. There will be mad building of tenements, so all these single family homes owned by anyone under the upper class can be removed for the 1%'s new parks, entertainment venues, luxury restaurants, play places for adults with rentable middle class personnel. Everyone but the upper class live in the tenements.
Good for the people of Poland who took to the streets and let their leaders know what they wanted. May we all be proactive when our elected leaders to not honor our wishes and interests.
11
What do you do after you have been 'proactive' meaning a nice slow walk on a beautiful day, with pretty banners, they ignore? You fight. Back in the 1770's we tried diplomacy, demonstrations here & in England, talks with foreign countries. France liked the idea of America fighting England, not caring who won. After all they were in the 100 years war with England, they were happy to help us.
So, now, the People here, need to decide it's time to remove this regime & crooked congress. We don't want to break with England, that's very old news, we want to clean up the regime, work as citizens on repairing our election & legal systems, & change the tax code back to how it was when the Income Tax was first passed. Hint: 98% of workers didn't have to even file, nothing kept out of their pay, the rich paid (without squawking, then anyway). The budget balanced & any deficits were minor. Not the 1700's. In the 1900's.
So, now, the People here, need to decide it's time to remove this regime & crooked congress. We don't want to break with England, that's very old news, we want to clean up the regime, work as citizens on repairing our election & legal systems, & change the tax code back to how it was when the Income Tax was first passed. Hint: 98% of workers didn't have to even file, nothing kept out of their pay, the rich paid (without squawking, then anyway). The budget balanced & any deficits were minor. Not the 1700's. In the 1900's.
1
If Duda loses this, Poland becomes a fascist nation. It would not surprise me if Duda is not around in a few months.
5
Smart. Loyal to the country. Keep separations. Well done.
8
The world is starting to be in danger, when presidents and dictators start to meddle with their constitutions, and their laws.
Africa, Turkey, and now Poland!
Africa, Turkey, and now Poland!
17
And Venezuela.
2
Good Job, President Duda! The International Mafia is trying to destroy the judiciary - or rather take it over - around the world.
Now, it's the American People's job to demand that the International Mafia and their operatives be thrown out of every government position in The United States of America. NOW! Average people of the world are looking to us as an example.
Let's show them how well real democracy can work. It will take new, unprecedented action. This attempt at a hostile financial takeover of OUR government is unprecedented and must not stand.
Now, it's the American People's job to demand that the International Mafia and their operatives be thrown out of every government position in The United States of America. NOW! Average people of the world are looking to us as an example.
Let's show them how well real democracy can work. It will take new, unprecedented action. This attempt at a hostile financial takeover of OUR government is unprecedented and must not stand.
16
The buried lede is the third bill. That Duda refused two insane ones gives him no credit for allowing even one of those hideous attacks on the judiciary past a committee, let alone a full parliament.
It's exactly how the GOP here and the Tories abroad chip away human rights and basic services: attack at the well-covered front with highly enriched crazy, while sneaking in subtle riders that even Democrats or Labour would accept to do the grunt work.
Duda and his Liars and Jackboots Party are high-fiving.
It's exactly how the GOP here and the Tories abroad chip away human rights and basic services: attack at the well-covered front with highly enriched crazy, while sneaking in subtle riders that even Democrats or Labour would accept to do the grunt work.
Duda and his Liars and Jackboots Party are high-fiving.
53
As we have seen in America, the judiciary is not the bastion of independence and impartiality that it paints itself as. Judges are ultimately political beings, whose biases infuse their decisions, and can cause great harm. Think of the ban on Trump's reasonable travel restrictions -- Alan Dershowitz and other constitutional scholars and law professors were almost unanimous in their opinions that the travel restrictions were constitutional. Most of the public supported the restrictions. The executive supported the restrictions. But one judge out on an island in the Pacific decided to play out his liberal upbringing and veto the majority will. Poland was trying to defend itself against such arbitrary anti-democratic actions, but looks like the EU flexed its muscle and kept its liberal judiciary in place. Sad day for democracy.
8
If the travel ban had been crafted in such a legal way, don't you think that this conservative Supreme Court would have immediately concluded that the ruling, coming from what you described (pejoratively?) as a judge from an island, was totally illegal? Instead, only some parts of the ban have been reinstated, until further evaluation. Or do you think that this is a liberal Supreme Court as well, bent on undermining this administration? That's possible, because we obviously don't read or remember the news the same way.
7
I believe that if you go back and check your facts, you will find that a majority of Americans did not support these bans. A majority of Trump supporters does not equal a majority of US citizens.
24
The first ban included permanent residents who left the country temporarily. Upon gaining permanent residency, males have to register for selective service and are eligible to be drafted into the US armed forcers just like the US citizens. Trying to ban green card holders from returning to their home in the US was wrong, un-American and unconstitutional.
As far as Poland, replacing their supreme court would be just like replacing ours when a new administration comes in. While it might seem attractive when your party is in power, it is far form a rosy picture when it is not. So instead of imaging Trump replacing all nine SCOTUS justices with a 50% senatorial approval, imagine it is 2008 and Obama just replaced all 9 justices with his picks. To me both of those scenarios are scary and we were are lucky that the first 7 justices picked under Washington were less political than judges today.
As far as Poland, replacing their supreme court would be just like replacing ours when a new administration comes in. While it might seem attractive when your party is in power, it is far form a rosy picture when it is not. So instead of imaging Trump replacing all nine SCOTUS justices with a 50% senatorial approval, imagine it is 2008 and Obama just replaced all 9 justices with his picks. To me both of those scenarios are scary and we were are lucky that the first 7 justices picked under Washington were less political than judges today.
I'm relieved to see this. An independent judiciary is essential for democracy.
18
I hope and trust that the people of Poland realise that once they hand over the keys to their judiciary, they are lost. It is very hard to understand why these good people would want to voluntarily defeat their own constitutional checks and balances. Never, never, never hand over total power to a politician. You will live to regret it! Here in Africa, we know this all too well. A vigorous and independent press, a strong and independent judiciary and a well-crafted constitution that cannot be changed unless one party has a two thirds majority, are ESSENTIAL to a functioning democracy. Politicians who have too much power will abuse it - every single time. That is guaranteed! Look at what is happening in Turkey. Do not be fooled! Nothing is worth sacrificing your fundamental freedoms for. Not security, not a strong economy - none of the things these politicians will promise you. Don't believe their promises (lies)! Stand firm and remember who you are. Politicians are NOT to be trusted!
76
Yes, Mr. Crozier, you are right. The United States must pass a Constitutional Amendment that requires at least 65% Senate approval for any United States Supreme Court nominee.
Right after we throw Mr. Gorsuch out along with the rest of the International Mafia and their operatives who have infiltrated OUR government at all levels.
Right after we throw Mr. Gorsuch out along with the rest of the International Mafia and their operatives who have infiltrated OUR government at all levels.
15
Later in the morning, Mr. Duda said that he would sign a third bill, which reorganizes Poland’s local judiciary, giving the justice minister the power to select the heads of the local courts and — in certain cases — even to direct judges to particular cases.
So a minister selected by the ruling party can choose which judge decides court cases that may involve corruption by party members. That will work out soooo well. Maybe all this other stuff was just a smoke screen to get this little bill passed. Moderately awful looks good compared to horrifically awful.
So a minister selected by the ruling party can choose which judge decides court cases that may involve corruption by party members. That will work out soooo well. Maybe all this other stuff was just a smoke screen to get this little bill passed. Moderately awful looks good compared to horrifically awful.
86
Don't they understand that someday, if that third bill is signed & works as planned, that another party may rule? Then it's them who will be done for. For some reason when either the putrid right or the scummy left gain control they stop thinking. They decide they will never be out of control, not in a billion years. Then 4 years later they go out of control for the next 50 years probably forever, because they will be too busy trying to stay out of jail & feed the family, as the judiciary has decided they are all worthless pieces of poo. Radicals can never be though of as intelligent. All Radicals consider intelligent people 'elite' & they never want to be that do they?
Court cases will be assigned to judges of the particular Polish jurisdiction by electronic "lottery" - the system was shown lately on Polish TV and will be mandatory once the law kicks in. Could it be manipulated (as our electronic voting is) ? Maybe, but Poland has much higher percentage of the university graduated IT/computer specialists than the US, and each one's ambition is to "catch" govt/corporate shenanigans, of ANY govt, ANY corporation. The HP famous RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) was the invention of the Polish University of Wroclaw.
NYS/NYC courts assign the cases to the judges (including the NYS Supreme Court) by personal recommendation - i.e. if you have enough $$$ or clout (as Sheldon Silver) you get the judge that you wish, to rule as you wish, on anything under the sun.
NYS/NYC courts assign the cases to the judges (including the NYS Supreme Court) by personal recommendation - i.e. if you have enough $$$ or clout (as Sheldon Silver) you get the judge that you wish, to rule as you wish, on anything under the sun.
1
What a disappointment for the White House!
Well, DJT still has recent success with El Sisi, Erdogan and Duterte to comfort him. Important autocrats, all.
Regards,
JV
Well, DJT still has recent success with El Sisi, Erdogan and Duterte to comfort him. Important autocrats, all.
Regards,
JV
27
Good for Poland. Good for Europe.
Is the leading opposition party "Civil Platform" or "Civic Platform"? The writer can't seem to decide. A copy editor would have caught that mistake, but alas...
Is the leading opposition party "Civil Platform" or "Civic Platform"? The writer can't seem to decide. A copy editor would have caught that mistake, but alas...
10
Some things don't translate into English well. Which is why when we steal words for America English often we don't bother to translate it from the language it started in.
It looks like other countries are stealing words now too. Veto for one, see it in candles on the ground in the picture? It's not Polish. It's not English either. It came from Latin. Which can't be a totally dead language. It lives on as stolen words, sometimes changed a little bit, in most European languages. Polish isn't a 'romantic' language which are languages that evolved from Latin, after the Romans left.
It looks like other countries are stealing words now too. Veto for one, see it in candles on the ground in the picture? It's not Polish. It's not English either. It came from Latin. Which can't be a totally dead language. It lives on as stolen words, sometimes changed a little bit, in most European languages. Polish isn't a 'romantic' language which are languages that evolved from Latin, after the Romans left.
BRAVO!
This is far from a final victory in the unexpected and difficult struggle against resurgent, democracy-hating authoritarians, whether they be named Kaczynski, Orban, Trump or Duterte, but it's good to see push-back, both from the streets and from within the authoritarian camps. Let's hope Republican members of Congress look at Mr. Duda and take his actions to heart.
Dan Kravitz
This is far from a final victory in the unexpected and difficult struggle against resurgent, democracy-hating authoritarians, whether they be named Kaczynski, Orban, Trump or Duterte, but it's good to see push-back, both from the streets and from within the authoritarian camps. Let's hope Republican members of Congress look at Mr. Duda and take his actions to heart.
Dan Kravitz
57
I think you forgot Erdogan...
8
If someone is forgotten, it only hurts their feelings, which is not a bad thing is it? All we must remember is to 'forget' a different one each time, unless one just happens to do something particularly bad right then & should be mentioned. But, I do mean right then, even a week before doesn't give them an automatic go to the head of the despot class.
This time is not public debt like Greece but political in nature. The political leadership in both countries are playing around with fundamental rules of democracy.
The complex economic and social realities in Europe and the US are giving rise to authoritarian nationalist leaders. A bad omen for democracy elsewhere in the world.