Jarosław Kaczyński criticized Andrzej Duda for vetoing judicial reform laws in 2017, a move that hindered the ruling party’s efforts to reform the state.
Criticism of Duda’s Veto
Jarosław Kaczyński stated during a meeting in Łódź that the party failed to implement its “policy of rebuilding the state” due to Andrzej Duda’s veto on judicial reform laws. Kaczyński noted that the reform should have started with rebuilding the judiciary, but this failed because Duda vetoed the fundamental law leading to this change.
Kaczyński emphasized that Duda’s decision was a surprise to party members and a significant blow, as the Polish constitutional structure allows courts to widely question reforms, making it impossible to implement without judicial reform.
Details of Duda’s Veto
In 2017, Andrzej Duda vetoed two out of three laws that aimed to change the Polish judiciary, including the creation of new chambers in the Supreme Court and changes in the appointment of Supreme Court judges.
This year, Duda also vetoed an incidental law that proposed that the validity of presidential elections be determined by 15 of the most senior Supreme Court judges.
Duda’s Response
In September, Andrzej Duda commented on his 2017 decisions, stating that he still believes his vetoes were the best solution at the time, despite Jarosław Kaczyński now considering them a mistake.
