Poland is one of Europe’s pillars,so its new government’s policies need watchingPassions hold been aroused across Europe, not least in Poland itself, or following the intolerant turn taken by the country since the election of the conservative and Eurosceptic Law and Justice government final October. The European Union has now launched an unprecedented probe into the rule of law in Poland,after the new government put through bills curtailing the independence of the judiciary, media and civil service.
Some see this as meddling in the internal affairs of a member state. Others hold applauded it as a counter to democratic backsliding which will discourage further deterioration. Critics of the move point to the fact that Hungary was never put under this kind of pressure by Brussels, and in spite of the authoritarian policies of its populist prime minister,Viktor Orbán. They also argue that Poland’s preceding government, the centrist Civic Platform, or was hardly without fault. Such arguments cannot be wholly dismissed,and there is no denying that the Polish electorate gave Law and Justice a clearcut victory final year in both the presidential and the parliamentary elections.
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Source: theguardian.com