Questioning the status of a judge, one appointed to the bench by the President, is simply illegitimate, and judges are certainly not the ones to judge who is a judge within the Polish legal order, so that's one thing. The second thing that also needs to be remembered. In Poland, there is only one body that assesses whether given legal solutions, given law, are consistent with the Polish Constitution or not. And of course, that is the Constitutional Tribunal. These are the constitutional, legal solutions we have in Poland. They are truly clear, unambiguous, and legible - stated Błażej Spychalski in a conversation with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

- It cannot be that Supreme Court judges will assess who is a judge and who is not, because that is the constitutional role of the President. If the President appoints someone to the judicial office at the request of the National Judicial Council, then that person is a judge - stated Błażej Spychalski in an interview with Jacek Prusinowski on Radio Plus.

“Last night, PiS undertook a massive reconstruction of the PRL. This time by gagging judges, striking at the fundamental principle of democracy and freedom of speech. They want to punish them for asking questions, for turning to the EU, for inquiring about the rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union. This is not only a monstrous step backward in legislation, not only another devastation of the courts. It is also a serious threat to our position in the EU and our membership. If anything brings us closer to Polexit with a creeping movement, it is precisely such decisions that cut off a part of the citizens from the possibility of seeking legal solutions in the EU” - Barbara Nowacka from Civic Coalition (KO) said at a press conference in the Sejm.

“Poles want fair courts, they want free courts, and they want equality before the law. None of this will happen if we do not ensure freedom for judges. Without it, the Polish judiciary will simply become a puppet in the hands of the rulers. The rulers will decide on the verdicts that will be issued in all Polish courtrooms. This project cuts us off from European achievements and clearly directs us Eastward. This is unacceptable” - added Robert Kropiwnicki from KO.

“Who will be next? What will the authorities do when, instead of judges, doubts are raised by parties’ representatives, legal advisors, and lawyers who will challenge the rulings issued by individuals who may likely not have the legitimacy to issue judgments? Will there be another law that will gag lawyers? Will it threaten them with prison? And what if non-governmental organizations ask questions? Will there be another law, gagging all organizations, associations, and foundations, putting company presidents in prison? What next?” - asked Arkadiusz Myrcha from KO.

- This is, of course, nonsense [that the PiS project is martial law declared on judges]. The opposition lies as usual. We must discipline the extraordinary caste, and this is a very mild, very delicate project - stated Ryszard Terlecki in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm.

- There will be no lower court costs, no shorter proceedings, no more justice, only more politics. This is an attempt to influence the impartiality and independence of courts and judges. This is an attempt to divert attention from the problems the ruling party has today. It is a desire for the total politicization of the judiciary. We see nothing for the citizen in this act. There is no fundamental systemic reform. We will demand the introduction of lay judges, lower court costs, the streamlining of cases, the separation of complex from simpler ones, and in fact, the reintroduction of justice into the justice system. Because this justice is fleeing thanks to the fact that the ruling camp is doing everything to eliminate the possibility, independence, and impartiality - stated Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at a briefing in the Sejm.

These are solutions [from PiS project] that are in effect in other EU countries. If anyone believes judges are gagged in France or Germany, then indeed such a thesis could be put forward. As I understand it, no one has any doubts that in France, Germany, or other EU countries, analogous regulations, and even more far-reaching ones, do not lead to judges being gagged at all, but rather ensure that the binding legal provisions enforce the duties imposed on judges, namely to adjudicate and not to question the status of other judges – stated Piotr Müller in a conversation with journalists in the Sejm.

- These draft laws cannot be improved. They should be rejected, and we should focus on draft laws that will restore order and legal certainty in our country. We need to implement everything that is said about our law diverging increasingly from European law. Soon, Polish law and Polish regulations will place us outside the EU, because without a common legal system, which includes the separation of powers, we will truly be on the fastest track to leaving the EU. I know we don't have a majority in the Sejm, and even very strong support in the Senate won't stop it when the president is determined to see such a law enacted. However, I hope that the presidential elections in the spring will result in a president who will allow and help us return to normality – stated Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska in an interview with TVN24.

"This act is absolutely scandalous. It should be rejected in its entirety. It imposes a gag on the judicial community, but also on prosecutors. This is intended to prevent judges from having freedom in their rulings. PiS wants judges to be unable to apply the constitution directly, to be unable to adopt resolutions in which they would oppose PiS's decisions, such as those of the neo-KRS and the Disciplinary Chamber" - said Lewica spokesperson Anna-Maria Żukowska at a press conference in the Sejm.

"This act is deeply unconstitutional because it interferes with judicial independence and prohibits judges from ruling based on the constitution. Lewica senators will recommend rejecting this act as unconstitutional. Perhaps PiS would not have had the courage to submit such a scandalous bill if it weren't for what Mr. President has been saying lately, belittling judges in the eyes of society. At the same time, it encourages PiS to submit such projects. This is unworthy of the office of the president. I hope PiS will withdraw from this idea" - added Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka.

- In the assessment of the Ministry of Justice, the bill amending the Act - Law on the Organization of Common Courts and the Act on the Supreme Court, presented in the Sejm by a group of MPs, in no way limits the independence of judges, who are an important element of a democratic rule of law state. It will allow for the solidification of the constitutional standard of judicial apoliticality and implements the principle of transparency of judicial authorities and judges, which is a fundamental guarantee of a democratic rule of law state - the Ministry of Justice wrote in its position "on changes concerning the activities of judges".

„We haven't spoken with the head of the [European] Commission about the so-called judges' disciplinary law at all, neither today nor yesterday. There's no need for extensive discussions on justice and judicial reform, although there is interest in the topic. This is because even in the latest ruling of the CJEU, it was clearly confirmed that judicial reform falls within the competence of member states,” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated at a press conference in Brussels.

„We are meeting on the 38th anniversary of the imposition of martial law. During martial law, democratic actions in Poland were halted. Everyone knows this. At that time, many judges were appointed. Judges were then appointed by the Council of State of the Polish People's Republic, a distinctly undemocratic body, subordinate to the institutions of the communist state. We have this comparison. I am curious how the CJEU would resolve such a dilemma: whether judges appointed in a fully legal manner by the National Council of the Judiciary and appointed by the President, with the National Council of the Judiciary established in accordance with the constitution, would be considered, when confronted with the question, a more appropriate body for appointing judges than the Council of State – totalitarian, communist – or the National Council of the Judiciary with a very strong democratic mandate,” he added.

„Today, a situation has arisen where some judges, by interpreting certain provisions in a specific way, based on rulings from the ECJ and harboring certain doubts about the changes, reforms we are implementing, are attempting to challenge these changes. However, I have an appeal not to lead to a situation heading towards chaos in the legal system. This is because undermining the rulings issued by judges appointed by the new National Council of the Judiciary, established in a manner fully compliant with the Polish constitution, is a direct path to legal chaos. My appeal, and this comparison simultaneously, should give many judges, many people in Poland in general, something to think about. I believe that respect for a certain institutional continuity has led to the fact that even the Law and Justice government, and myself included, respect the judges who were appointed there. Since such a reflection appears in the ruling of the European Court of Justice, which I mentioned a few days ago or yesterday in an interview – because days and nights pass quickly – I think this reflection should cool down certain ambitions that could lead to anarchy, to legal chaos, and we should guard against this. The law is intended to establish legal order within this system,” the Prime Minister said.

- The quality of life for an ordinary Polish family is paramount to us, and what we managed to negotiate during the night will indeed contribute to improving the quality of life for Polish families. This is because the changes in the energy system, linked to this climate neutrality by 2050, must be adapted to Polish conditions, capabilities, and needs, and that is precisely what has happened. This is a very good result, as Poland has obtained an exemption from the EU's commitment to achieve this climate neutrality by 2050. Simultaneously, we also secured a provision in the third paragraph of the conclusions, which mandates linking new legislation created at the EU Council level with the European Council's conclusions - stated Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki after the EU summit.

- Colleagues, in recent months I have travelled the length and breadth of Poland. For the support and words of encouragement I have received from you, I sincerely thank you. Your energy, wisdom, and desire to fix Poland give me hope and, believe me, add to my strength. Poles want change. They want a president for whom every citizen, male and female, will be equally important. The most important elections in 30 years lie before us. We will win them when we are together. Therefore, I ask for your vote - says Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska in a special video addressed to PO members.

https://twitter.com/kidawa2020/status/1205525882837831680

- Certain elements, certain assumptions related to such a fundamental matter as judges not engaging in politics, or such a fundamental matter as the judicial appointment closing all discussions and the status of a sworn judge being unchallengeable, are elements that the KPRP consistently raises, which are in line with the Polish constitution and which have also been reflected in this draft law [on changes in the judiciary] - said Paweł Mucha in an interview with Bartosz Kurek on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

The campaign will begin when all candidates are revealed. Elections will be called. I will say this, with full humility, but the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, is prepared for a substantive discussion with any potential male or female rival - said Paweł Mucha in an interview with Bartosz Kurek on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

- It is likely. Once the date is set, we will officially communicate about it, but such an invitation from Mr. President has been extended. I think it will be met with a warm reception, and I trust that such a meeting will take place - said Paweł Mucha in an interview with Bartosz Kurek on the program "Gość Wydarzeń" on Polsat News.

- In my opinion, first and foremost, [the PiS draft law] is an attempt to distract from what is most important and fundamental at this moment, which is the implementation of the ECJ ruling of November 19. We know very well that the courts have begun to implement this ruling; judges have started refusing to participate in the procedures for appointing new judges by the KRS. The three-judge panel of the Supreme Court issued a ruling in which it assessed and, one could say, responded to the ECJ ruling, and now, through this draft law, one could say, the ruling party is shifting the ball to another field. Of course, indirectly, it blocks and hinders the execution of the ruling, but it's playing for time, causing us to start dealing with something entirely different. We stop demanding the execution of the ECJ ruling, and that's it. Such a maneuver – stated Adam Bodnar in an interview with Piotr Marciniak on TVN24's "Fakty po faktach".

- We actually managed to prevent a situation of gigantic energy price hikes in Poland, because it's impossible to change the energy structure in a few years or even a few decades, even relying on technological progress - said Piotr Müller in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the program "Wydarzenia i Opinie" (Events and Opinions) on Polsat News.

- If you were reforming the judiciary and if the waiting time for a verdict for citizens was shortened, we would support you. Instead, you have only and exclusively focused on demolishing and destroying the mountain, meaning both the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Tribunal, which practically does not rule at the moment. Meanwhile, citizens gain nothing from this – said Marek Sawicki in an interview with Piotr Witwicki on the Polsat News program “Events and Opinions.”

300POLITYKI LIVEBLOG: GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON PREVENTING A SITUATION OF GIGANTIC ENERGY PRICE HIKES IN POLAND BODNAR ON THE PIS DRAFT BILL BEING AN ATTEMPT TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, NAMELY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CJEU RULING MUCHA ON THE MEETING REQUESTED FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE FOR TOKARCZUK KIDAWA-BŁOŃSKA ADDRESSES PLATFORMA MEMBERS IN A SPECIAL ADDRESS, ASKING FOR SUPPORT PMM ON THE BILL DISCIPLINING JUDGES https://300polityka.pl/live/2019/12/13/ ***** POLSAT EVENTS -- THE DRAFT BILL SUBMITTED TO THE SEJM BY THE PIS PARTY IS INTENDED TO DISCOURAGE JUDGES WHO QUESTION THE LEGALITY OF THE ELECTION OF OTHER JUDGES BY THE NEW NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL (KRS). -- 45 PAGES INCLUDING THE JUSTIFICATION – THAT’S HOW LONG THE DRAFT BILL IS, WHICH IS INTENDED TO INFLUENCE JUDGES' BEHAVIOR THROUGH THREAT OF PENALTIES – Grzegorz Kępka. -- THE SEVEREST PENALTY WOULD APPLY TO JUDGES QUESTIONING THE LEGALITY OF THE KRS, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF APPOINTMENTS MADE BY IT, AND THE FINALITY OF THEIR RULINGS – Kępka continues. -- JUDGES HAVE DOUBTS AS TO WHETHER PERSONS APPOINTED BY THE KRS ARE JUDGES FOLLOWING THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING, WHICH STATED THAT THE COUNCIL, IN ITS CURRENT COMPOSITION, IS NOT AN IMPARTIAL BODY AND IS NOT INDEPENDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE POWERS – Kępka. -- THE DISCIPLINARY CHAMBER, ALSO QUESTIONED BY THE SUPREME COURT, IS TO DECIDE ON PENALTIES FOR JUDGES – Kępka continues. -- THE PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS OF SUCCESS AND SLOWER CHANGES IN THE POLISH ECONOMY; ENVIRONMENTALISTS WARN OF CATASTROPHE. -- UNOFFICIALLY, IT IS SAID IN BRUSSELS THAT AS MUCH AS 1/3 OF THE ENTIRE FUND FOR ENERGY TRANSFORMATION COULD GO TO POLISH COAL REGIONS – Dorota Bawołek. -- THE CATCH IS THAT SOME MEMBER STATES, LED BY PARIS, ARE MAKING ACCESS TO THIS MONEY CONDITIONAL ON COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE NEUTRALITY, FROM WHICH POLAND WAS EXEMPTED AS A RESULT OF ARDUOUS NEGOTIATIONS AT THE SUMMIT – Bawołek continues. ***** TVN FACTS -- FORBIDDEN CRITICISM OF THE AUTHORITIES, AND WHOEVER OBEYS THE CJEU MAY BE EXPELLED – in the preview. -- A SYMBOLIC PACIFICATION OF JUDGES ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF MARTIAL LAW – Pochanke. -- THIS IS NO LONGER SHELLING THE COURTS, THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB – Krzysztof Skórzyński. -- THE DRAFT BILL FORESEES REPRESSIONS UNSEEN SINCE THE FALL OF COMMUNISM – Skórzyński. -- FOR A PROTEST LIKE TODAY’S IN KRAKOW, A JUDGE COULD LOSE THEIR JOB – Skórzyński. -- WITH ONE PARAGRAPH, THE PIS PARTY SILENCES ANY JUDGE WHO CRITICIZES THE AUTHORITIES AND CRITICIZES THE CHANGES INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PARTY – Skórzyński. -- THEY CAN BE PUNISHED FOR ANYTHING THAT THE CHAMBER, APPOINTED BY THESE AUTHORITIES, DEEMS POLITICAL – Skórzyński. -- THIS WILL BE THE FINAL CLOSING OF THE JUDICIAL REVOLUTION – Skórzyński. -- JUDICIAL ASSOCIATIONS ARE A THORN IN THE SIDE OF THE CURRENT AUTHORITIES – Skórzyński. -- IN THE JUSTIFICATION, A JUDGE IS CALLED AN OFFICER OF THE JUDICIARY – Skórzyński. -- WILL WE STILL HAVE LAW IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EU? IN CASE OF CONFLICT, THERE IS AN EXIT, AN EXIT FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION – in the preview by Justyna Pochanke. -- POLAND IS WITHDRAWING FROM THE EU – Katarzyna Lubnauer. -- SOBIENIOWSKI ON ZIOBRO AND PMM: Politicians close to Ziobro know more about the bill than the prime minister himself. -- THIS IS A DE FACTO POLEXIT – Judge Irena Kamińska. -- A COMPARISON OF SUCH AUTHORITIES (Kamińska, Łętowska) WITH SUCH (Kaleta, Ozdoba, Kanthak) – Sobieniowski. -- THE THREAT OF LESS MONEY FROM THE EU IS NOW REAL – Sobieniowski. -- THE PRESIDENT DID NOT SPEAK; HIS ADVISORS LIKED THIS BILL – Sobieniowski. -- WE WERE ALLOWED TO PROCEED AT OUR OWN PACE BECAUSE NO ONE INTENDS TO WAIT FOR US. IS IT REALLY A SUCCESS THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL BREATHE POISONED AIR? – in the preview by Pochanke. -- POLAND WAS EXCLUDED FROM THIS PLAN – Płuska. -- WE ARE LEFT WITH NOTHING, OUR PRIME MINISTER IS LEFT WITH NOTHING, WITH A SWORD BUT NO WALLET – Greenpeace. -- PRESIDENT BANAS IS DISTRIBUTING AWARDS. 3.5 MILLION ZŁOTYCH FOR EMPLOYEES – preview: Despite the scandal, he still feels confident. Those who elected him are losing confidence. -- ADAM LIPINSKI IS THE FIRST FROM THE PIS LEADERSHIP TO ADMIT HE FEELS GUILTY – Justyna Pochanke continues. -- DON’T BOTHER ME – Marek Kuchciński, when asked if he regrets electing Marian Banas. -- THE QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE WHO ELECTED BANAS IS NOT A NUISANCE, BUT A QUESTION OF WHY NEITHER THE GOVERNMENT NOR ANY OF THE OVER 240 DEPUTIES TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE RESERVATIONS REGARDING BANAS’S ASSETS – Arleta Zalewska. -- STATEMENTS LIKE LIPINSKI’S ARE AN EXCEPTION IN PIS – Zalewska. -- THE DISCUSSION WITHIN PIS ON HOW TO DISMISS BANAS HAS CLEARLY SUBSIDED. HE HIMSELF IS WORKING AND AWARDING BONUSES – Zalewska. -- BANAS DID NOT AWARD HIMSELF – Zalewska. ***** TVP NEWS -- THE POLISH GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CARE FOR THE CLIMATE AND REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS, BUT COAL-BASED ENERGY CURRENTLY MEETS 80% OF THE COUNTRY’S NEEDS – Damian Diaz. -- BRUSSELS DOES NOT RECOGNIZE GAS AS AN ECOLOGICAL FUEL – Diaz. -- CLIMATE NEUTRALITY WOULD MEAN NOT ONLY JOB LOSSES FOR EUROPEANS BUT A REVOLUTION IN LIFESTYLE – Diaz. -- THE NEW GREEN DEAL WAS INITIALLY INTENDED TO BE BLOCKED BY THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY. THEY AGREED TO THE EC'S PLAN ON THE CONDITION THAT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS ARE RECOGNIZED AS AN ECOLOGICAL SOURCE – Diaz. -- THERE IS NO LACK OF OPINIONS THAT IF THE OPPOSITION HAD CONTINUED TO GOVERN, WE WOULD RETURN FROM BRUSSELS EMPTY-HANDED, JUST AS WHEN THE UNION FORBADE US FROM SAVING POLISH COAL MINES – preview. -- POLES ARE PAYING FOR THE “POLICY OF SUBMISSION” OF THE PO-PSL COALITION – banner. -- IN FEBRUARY 2015, POLICE FIRED ON PROTESTING MINERS – Konrad Wąż. -- MINING WAS TO BE LIQUIDATED, SIMILAR TO POLISH SHIPYARDS EARLIER – Wąż. -- PO POLITICIANS PUSHED FOR MANDATORY RELOCATION OF REFUGEES – Wąż. -- WHEN PIS OPPOSED THIS, TUSK THREATENED POLAND WITH SANCTIONS – Wąż. -- HENCE THE FEARS THAT CONTINUING A SUBMISSIVE POLICY, AS IN THE TIMES OF PO-PSL AND THE TUSK-JUNCKER-TIMMERMANS TRIO, COULD THREATEN A CATASTROPHE FOR THE POLISH STATE – Wąż. -- 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF MARTIAL LAW. -- POLITICIANS FROM THE CIVIC COALITION AND SLD STAND IN DEFENSE OF PRL OFFICIALS. SOME LEFT-WING POLITICIANS HELD IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN THE COMMUNIST STATE. TODAY THEY SIT IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – Jan Korab. -- THE DRAFT AMENDMENT TO THE LAW ON THE SYSTEM OF COMMON COURTS, THE SUPREME COURT, AND OTHER LAWS IS NOT TO THE LIKING OF SOME JUDGES AND THE OPPOSITION – preview: Not for the first time, accusations of the end of democracy and the separation of powers, and even comparisons to martial law, have been made. -- THE AMENDMENT IS INTENDED TO BE A RESPONSE TO THE POLITICIZATION AND INTERNAL CONFLICT WITHIN THE JUDICIAL COMMUNITY, WHICH ALREADY SUFFERS FROM LOW PUBLIC TRUST – Maksymilian Maszenda. -- JUDGES FROM IUSTITIA COMPARE THE DRAFT BILL TO THE INTRODUCTION OF MARTIAL LAW IN POLAND – Maszenda. -- A SIMILAR NARRATIVE HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY SOME OF THE OPPOSITION, INCLUDING THE HEAD OF PO, WHO IS THREATENING AND TRYING TO PRESSURE OTHER JUDGES – Maszenda. -- THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE POSITIVELY ASSESSES THE DRAFT BILL – Maszenda. -- THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WERE MODELED ON FRANCE – Maszenda. -- FOR YEARS, ENFORCING DISCIPLINARY LIABILITY FOR JUDGES HAS BEEN DIFFICULT, AND OFTEN IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS PRECISELY WHY THE REFORM OF THE JUDICIARY MUST GAIN MOMENTUM – EXPERTS COMMENT – preview. -- POLES WANT FAIR AND WISE COURTS. UNFORTUNATELY, JUDGES’ DECISIONS TOO OFTEN CAUSE OUTRAGE AND A SENSE OF INJUSTICE – Maciej Sawicki. -- WE HAVE A DICTATORSHIP OF JUDGES TODAY – Jan Śpiewak. -- ŚPIEWAK WAS FINALLY CONVICTED FOR DEFAMING THE DAUGHTER OF A FORMER MINISTER OF JUSTICE FROM THE PO-PSL COALITION – Sawicki. -- JUDGES SHOW NO MERCY TO ORDINARY POLES – Sawicki. -- Sawicki recalls the cases of Najsztub and Durczok.