European Parliament debate on alleged Polish 'coup d'état' to go ahead

Schulz said in an interview with German radio station Deutschlandfunk that the debate on the Law and Justice (PiS) government could take place either this week, and “no later than the January session.”

However, Schulz argued against going beyond a parliamentary debate.

“When right-wing populists are handed the argument that external forces - other countries - are trying to interfere in the internal politics of their country in order to correct the situation, then this increases their popularity like nothing else,” he said.

“I would advise being very careful about taking action,” he reflected.

“A debate is something else though.”

Much of the current controversy hinges on the Polish parliament's pushing through of an amendment that allowed for the replacement of five judges in Poland's Constitutional Tribunal last month.

Nevertheless, the tribunal itself concluded that Poland's last government, which was ejected from office in 25 October general elections, had itself prematurely voted in two judges.

Protests both against Law and Justice and in favour of the new government took place over the weekend.

President Andrzej Duda has said he will give interviews for foreign media outlets after a series of negative reports emerged from sources such as CNN that criticised the government's anti-immigrant rhetoric, cultural policy and moves to install the new judges.

Hysteria?

When the notion of a debate on Poland in the European Parliament was proposed earlier this month, Law and Justice dismissed the need for such a discussion.

“This is incomprehensible hysteria caused by liberal circles,” said Law and Justice MEP Tomasz Poręba.

Although thousands protested in demonstrations against the new government in Warsaw and other Polish cities on Saturday, not all opposition figures took part.

Former prime minister Leszek Miller, head of the Democratic Left Alliance (currently not in the lower house of parliament) said that he does not subscribe to the opinion that “democracy is under threat.” (nh/pk)