WARSAW: Polish lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that would allow parliament to appoint Supreme Court judges, defying objections from lawyers, opposition leaders and the European Union that the move undermines democracy and the rule of law.

The vote came a day after the EU gave its largest formerly communist member state a week to shelve judicial reforms that Brussels says would put courts under direct government control.

If Warsaw’s ruling nationalist-minded conservatives do not back down, they could face fines and even a suspension of voting rights, although other eurosceptics in the EU, notably Hungary, will likely veto strict punishment.

In the best-case scenario, Poland will see its clout in Brussels wane further, damaged by mounting frustration among its EU peers about disagreements over issues such as migration, nature conservation and EU reforms.

The bill, submitted by the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), was passed by parliament’s lower house after three days of rowdy debate and protests that drew thousands of people across Poland.

It will go to parliament’s upper house, where PiS also has a majority, on Friday. President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, will have to sign it before it can become law.

During the debate, Poland’s human rights ombudsman, Adam Bodnar, told parliament that the legislation, together with two other bills that will change the way judges are appointed, would “deprive citizens of the right to an independent court”.

“We are planting an explosive under our judiciary,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2017