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Senate approves powerful new role for justice minister

PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea 31.01.2016 10:46
The Polish Senate on Saturday passed a bill which will see the post of justice minister being combined with that of the state prosecutor.
The voting in the senate took place on Saturday. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz The voting in the senate took place on Saturday. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

The bill, part of a wider reform of the country’s prosecution service backed by Poland’s new Law and Justice (PiS) government, has come under fire from the opposition, who say it will erode the independence of prosecutors and subject them to political pressure.

However, PiS says the changes will make prosecutors more efficient.

A bill allowing the merger of the posts of justice minister and state prosecutor was accepted by the Senate without any amendments on Saturday.

Poland’s lower house of parliament passed the bill on Thursday.

Under the new legislation, Poland's Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro will also take on the role of state prosecutor on 4 March. A month later, the military prosecution service, a separate authority, will be disbanded.

A total of 62 senators voted in favour of the bill, with 24 voting against. One abstained from voting. (rg/pk)

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