23/2018 • 27, JANUARY 2018 WEEKEND ISSUE
DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Kaczynski: Poland will stand its ground in EU spat Warsaw doesnʼt appear ready to back down as the EU targets its judicial reform
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, has said that the program of "deep changes" in Poland "will not slow down."
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, said in an interview on Friday that Poland would not change course on its widely criticizedjudicial reforms. In late 2017, the European Commission invoked Article 7 and gave Warsaw three months to demonstrate its respect for democratic values, including independence of the judiciary. "The program of deep changes in our country will not slow down, on the contrary — there cannot be any talk about reaching an agreement with powers that for years treated Poland as their own private loot," Kaczynski told the daily Gazeta Polska Codziennie. Kaczynski also said in the interview that comments made by new Polish foreign minister, Jacek Czaputowicz, had been "imprecise." Czaputowicz said the European Court of Justice was the only institution that might be entitled to decide whether EU law and standards were being respected in Poland. "There is of course no way that Poland will relinquish a decision on judicial reform to the European Court of Justice. That is a domestic matter guaranteed by EU law," Kaczynski said. Since Kaczynski — widely recognized as the real power behind the government — appointed Mateusz Morawiecki new prime minister in November,Warsaw had appeared to be shifting toward a more conciliatory stance in the dispute. The dispute is important because it potentially impacts several issues at a time when the EU is in flux. As Europe waits for Berlin to outline a
clear strategic stance on the EU, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron driving what many see as a blueprint for a two-speed Europe, Warsaw — as well as Budapest and Prague — may prove to be key opponents. TheGerman-backedinflux of migrants from the Middle East and the proposed EU quota system for allocating a minority of them to EU states has had very few supporters in the Central and Eastern European region; Warsaw has refused to take in any refugees. The EUʼs €1 trillion ($1.2 trillion) long-term budget, of which Poland is the biggest net beneficiary, is perhaps the key issue.Some in the EU want to make the development funds dependent on respect for the rule of law. If completed, the Article 7 procedure would permit the bloc to reduce of freeze funds if it desires. EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said this week she had been tasked with "proposing a framework that would highlight the need to respect the rule of law" in order to benefit from European funding in the blocʼs next 2021-27 budget. The reforms are part of a wider judicial reform packagethat would give the government greater control over the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court. PiS argues an overhaul is needed to clean the judicial system of its Communist past. Critics claim it is an attempt to dismantle Polandʼs hard-won democratic infrastructure and also to sideline potential judicial impediments to implementation of its right-wing social agenda and economic reforms.
Car drives into pedestrians in Melbourne
Philippine ferry capsizes with 251 people aboard
UNICEF: 220,000 children threatened by mines in Ukraineʼs east
Senior UK minister Damian Green resigns
At least 19 people have been injured after a man intentionally drove into pedestrians. Police have said there is no connection with terrorism "at this time." A car intentionally plowed into pedestrians at one of Melbourneʼs busiest intersections on Thursday, injuring at least 19 people. The white four-wheel drive hit the pedestrians at the intersection of Flinders and Elizabeth Street around 4:45 p.m. local time (0645 UTC/GMT), Victoria Police said in a statement. The intersection is next to Flinders Street Station.
A Philippine ferry carrying over 250 passengers has capsized off an island south of Manila. Reports suggest at least four people have died as rescue efforts remain ongoing. The Philippine ferry sank off the countryʼs eastern coast on Thursday after being caught in a heavy storm and choppy waters, coast guards said. Officials said that at least four passengers had died in the accident, while between 40 and 88 remained unaccounted for, according to varying media reports. The remaining passengers had been rescued.
In Ukraineʼs war-torn east, 220,000 children are at risk of injury or death by explosives littering the territory. They have caused scores of deaths, and left many children with "lifelong disabilities," says UNICEF. According to areport by the UN childrenʼs agency, UNICEF, published on Thursday, 220,000 children living ineastern Ukraineare at severe risk of serious injury by landmines and other deadly explosives littering the territory. These landmines and other explosives have caused scores of deaths and have left many children with "lifelong disabilities."
UK Prime Minister Theresa Mayʼs most senior minister has resigned after an inquiry found he had made misleading comments about pornography found on his computer. It is a serious blow for an already isolated premier. First Secretary of State Damian Green has resigned amid allegations pornographic material was found on his computer in the House of Commons in 2008. "I regret that Iʼve been asked to resign from the government following breaches of the Ministerial Code, for which I apologize," Green said in a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.