Poland’s de facto leader slams president, wants to restore ‘moral order’

Kaczyński reaffirmed his intent to target courts and media.

The leader of Poland’s ruling party criticized President Andrzej Duda Thursday for committing to veto controversial judicial reforms, but said “radical” court reform would still happen, local media reported.

Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the ruling Law and Justice party and Poland’s de facto leader, slammed Duda for pledging to axe two laws intended to increase government control over the judiciary, saying in an interview with Catholic TV channel Trwam that the president had made a “very serious mistake.”

“This means there will be a reform, a radical reform,” said Kaczyński. “Partial reform won’t change anything.”

He did not elaborate on what measures he is considering.

Kaczyński’s comments come amid a growing rift between Warsaw and Brussels over attempts by the Law and Justice party to boost its control over the judiciary. The EU has condemned measures intended to increase political influence over the country’s courts as anti-democratic, with critics warning that the government’s latest steps have put Poland on the road to autocracy.

Poland’s parliament backed the measures, but Duda said he would veto two of three bills on the judiciary after thousands protested the proposed legal changes.

The European Commission is preparing to empower President Jean-Claude Juncker and First Vice President Frans Timmermans to issue infringement proceedings against Poland if Warsaw finds another way to replace Supreme Court judges over the summer.

Speaking for the first time since Duda vetoed the controversial judicial reforms, Kaczyński also addressed civic life. “We want to restore a moral order,” said the Law and Justice party founder.

Law and Order, known by the acronym PiS in Polish, is a far-right, nationalist party with ties to the country’s conservative clergy. In the interview aired Thursday, Kaczyński was interviewed by a priest. Nevertheless, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, the president of the Polish bishops’ conference, praised Duda’s pledge to veto the bill.

Kaczyński added that the government would “decentralize” the country’s media after it enacts controversial judicial reforms, even though he anticipates “strong resistance” to the move.

He did not offer specific details of his plan, but members of the Law and Justice party have previously suggested restricting foreign ownership of private media.

 

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