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On July 19, the Polish Parliament (Sejm) will be voting on the law that would force the entire Supreme Court to retire and enable complete political control of the selection of judges. If this law comes in to force, Poland will no longer have any independent check on the consititution. Ahead of coming elections, ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party will not only control both chamber of the Parliament, but also the validation of elections and prosecution against officials in Poland.

‘The separation of powers is the fundament of a democratic state, a European state. The European leaders, the Commission and the EU Parliament must speak up with a strong and unified voice against this grave degradation of democracy in Poland’ says LYMEC President Sissel Kvist.

Poland is rapidly moving towards becoming an undemocratic state, similar to that of Hungary, moving away from the values of the European Union. For the sake of the Polish people, there must be quick and apt action against the dominating party whose actions now will affect generation to come if the bespoken laws are passed. If the Polish Parliament does not abort the current proposal, the European Union will be forced to accelerate sanctions against the Polish government through article VII process and end the escalating situation. Democracy in former communist Poland was hard-won and must remain protected for coming generations.

LYMEC supports the efforts by the opposition parties, such as Nowoczesna (Modern) and Civic Platform (PO) to unite in the struggle to withhold a democratic Poland.

‘The Polish people have taken to the streets during the past weekend and now it is our responsibility to react to the turn away from progress, democracy and transparency in Poland’ Kvist continues ahead of the European Commission’s discussion on the situation in Poland on Wednesday July 19.

Watchful to the present increasingly undemocratic and populist events in Europe, LYMEC with holds: the European Union was founded for and has achieved peace, freedom, democracy, rule of law and protection of human rights. This requires constant attention and will of politicians and civil society to be preserved and further enhanced.