Renew Europe condemns the Polish Constitutional Court dismissal of Ombudsman Adam Bodnar

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Date: April 15, 2021

Renew Europe strongly regrets that the Polish Constitutional Court, controlled by the ruling PiS Government, has today ruled to removed Adam Bodnar from his post as Polish Ombudsman for Citizens rights. This marks a sad day for the citizens of Poland, meaning in practice that there will no longer be an institution protecting human rights in the country.

"The dismissal of the mediator Adam Bodnar is unacceptable", says Renew Europe's President Dacian Cioloş. He continues: "The relentless efforts of the Polish authorities to destroy the rule of law stone by stone is more evident than ever. Freedom-loving Polish citizens should know that they can count on our determination to block the road to all those who by their actions or words undermine the founding principles of our European Union."

On the very same day, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has confirmed what Renew Europe has stressed all along - there are some enormous problems and concerns regarding the rule of law in Poland. Renew Europe demands that the European Commission take immediate action to stop the Government from trashing the rule of law and independence of the judiciary in Poland.

Michal Šimečka, Vice-President of Renew Europe and the Group’s shadow on Poland, concludes: "The European Commission should immediately launch an infringement proceeding and request the European Court of Justice to order Poland to restore the independence of the Constitutional Tribunal – a concern the Commission already identified in its Article 7 TEU submissions. Poland's ongoing non-compliance with previous decisions of the Court of Justice regarding judicial independence should also be met with financial penalties.”

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