Commission initiates infringement proceedings

The European Commission has just announced that it is initiating infringement proceedings against Poland for restricting the independence of the judiciary. The Polish government has two months to respond to the infringement procedure. The government is holding the presidential elections on 10 May. Due to the Corona crisis, there is virtually no election campaign, which gives incumbent Andrzej Duda a clear advantage.

Terry Reintke, Greens/EFA Group shadow rapporteur for Poland in the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, comments:

"The European Commission's decision is the right response to the undue interference of the Polish government in the independence of the judiciary. This concrete step was long overdue after months of finger pointing at the Polish government.

"The European Commission should also look at the situation around the presidential elections. Forging ahead with elections in the midst of this crisis without equal opportunities for all candidates and voters is a farce aimed at securing a specific outcome."