(21 Jul 2017) Around 1,000 people gathered on Friday night in front of the Polish Supreme Court building in Warsaw to protest a new law that would give politicians substantial influence over the country's Supreme Court, a move that critics say would defy the principles of the European Union.
As darkness fell, protesters lit up candles and chanted slogans.
EU leaders say the draft bill put forward by the country's conservative populist government would kill judicial independence and threaten the rule of law in the EU's largest member in Central and Eastern Europe.
While urging Poland to seek a dialogue on its plans, EU leaders have said the bill, together with earlier related legislation, violate the 28-country bloc's vital principles and have warned of potential consequences.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, head of the ruling Law and Justice party, contends the judiciary still works along the communist-era model and harbours many judges from that time.
Communist rule ended in 1989.
He says it needs "radical changes" to become efficient and reliable.
The legislation calls for firing current Supreme Court judges, except those chosen by the justice minister and approved by the president.
It gives the president the power to issue regulations for the court's work.
It also introduces a disciplinary chamber that, on a motion from the justice minister, would handle suspected breaches of regulations or ethics.
Controlled by the ruling party, the Senate is expected to approve the bill.
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