{{Short description|Political conflict centred on the rule of law in Poland}}
{{Update|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Politics of Poland}}
The '''Polish constitutional crisis''', also known as the '''Polish rule-of-law crisis''', is a political conflict ongoing since 2015 in which the [[Polish government]] has been accused of failing to comply with [[European Union law|European]] and [[Constitution of Poland|Polish constitutional]] law. The [[2015 Polish parliamentary election]] resulted in the [[Law and Justice (Poland)|Law and Justice]] party ({{lang|pl|Prawo i Sprawiedliwość}}, PiS) winning control of both the presidency and Parliament. With this [[government trifecta]] (as a result of its participation in the [[United Right (Poland)|United Right]]), PiS used its power to appoint judges to the [[Constitutional Tribunal (Poland)|Constitutional Tribunal]] in 2015, leading to the [[2015 Polish Constitutional Court crisis]]. The [[government of Poland]] continued to expand its hold on [[Judiciary of Poland|the judiciary]] resulting in the 2017 [[Supreme Court of Poland|Supreme Court]] crisis, and the 2019 [[Polish judicial disciplinary panel law]]. These events allowed the legislature and executive of the Polish government to have ''de facto'' control over judges and their appointments.[{{Cite web| title=Poland |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/poland/freedom-world/2020 |access-date=2020-11-15 |website=Freedom House |language=en}}]
These moves have been condemned by the [[European Union]] (EU), which initiated an [[Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union|Article 7]] process against Poland. The [[European Commission]] referred Poland to the [[European Court of Justice]] (ECJ), stating in 2017 that "the executive and legislative branches have been systematically enabled to politically interfere in the composition, powers, administration and functioning of the judicial branch."[{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Rule of Law: European Commission acts to defend judicial independence in Poland|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_17_5367|access-date=2020-11-15|website=[[European Commission]]|language=en|date=20 December 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240717190344/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_17_5367|archive-date=2024-07-17|url-status=live}}] In 2019 and 2020, the ECJ ruled against Poland in ''[[Commission v Poland]]'', ordering it to suspend several laws which interfere with the independence of the judiciary, but these rulings have been largely ignored in Poland.[{{Cite journal|date=2020-03-10|title=Commission v Poland: What Happened, What it Means, What it Will Take|url=https://verfassungsblog.de/commission-v-poland-what-happened-what-it-means-what-it-will-take/|access-date=2020-11-15|journal=Verfassungsblog: On Matters Constitutional|doi=10.17176/20200310-215105-0 |language=en-US |last1=Morijn |first1=John }}] The crisis briefly jeopardised the EU [[COVID-19 pandemic]] recovery budget ([[Next Generation EU]]), which allowed funds to be made available to [[EU member states]] on the condition of "[[rule of law]]", a clause that the Polish government under PiS and the [[Hungarian government]] under [[Viktor Orbán]] threatened to veto in 2020.[{{Cite web|date=2020-12-11|title=Rule of law fears remain in Poland despite EU compromise|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/11/eu-fears-hungary-poland-compromise-not-end-of-story|access-date=2020-12-13|website=The Guardian|language=en}}]
Since the changes to the judiciary, a number of [[Protests against Polish judiciary reforms|protests]] took place as a result of either the changes themselves, rulings by the new judiciary, or other legislative action deemed to break European or international [[human rights]] legislation. This includes the [[Black Protest]] and [[2020–21 women's strike protests in Poland|Women's Strike]] against restrictions to women's rights (especially with regards to abortion), the [[Polish Sejm crisis]] against restrictions of press freedoms, and the [[2020 LGBT protests in Poland]] against restrictions to LGBT rights,[{{Cite web|last=UKCLA|date=2020-11-12|title=Atina Krajewska: The judgment of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal on abortion: a dark day for Poland, for Europe, and for democracy|url=https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2020/11/12/atina-krajewska-the-judgment-of-the-polish-constitutional-tribunal-on-abortion-a-dark-day-for-poland-for-europe-and-for-democracy/|access-date=2020-11-15|website=UK Constitutional Law Association|language=en}}] and the [[2023 Polish protests]] in response to the oppression committed by the government by these actions. These rulings and legislative actions with the corresponding protest action exacerbated the crisis in Poland. After the [[2023 Polish parliamentary election]], the newly elected [[Donald Tusk]]-led coalition government started to reverse the PiS reforms. This has been opposed by both former president [[Andrzej Duda]] and incumbent president [[Karol Nawrocki]].
== Background ==
=== Constitutional Tribunal ===
{{Main|Constitutional Tribunal (Poland)}}
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="font-size:88%;line-height:15px;"
|+List of [[Constitutional Tribunal (Poland)|TC]] judges by seniority in June 2015
!No || Judge || Nominated
by{{efn|The colors only represent the majorities that elected each judge, as the [[Polish Constitution]] of 1997 mandates that judges shall be independent and shall not belong to any political party (Article 195).[{{Cite web|url=http://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Poland|website=Sejm}}]}} || Nomination date || End of term
|-
|1 || {{ill|Maria Gintowt-Jankowicz|pl}} || {{color box|{{party color|Law and Justice}}}} PiS || data-sort-value="2006-11-06"|6 November 2006 || data-sort-value="2015-11-06"|'''6 November 2015'''
|-
|2 || {{ill|Wojciech Hermeliński|pl}} || {{color box|{{party color|Law and Justice}}}} PiS || data-sort-value="2006-11-06"|6 November 2006 || data-sort-value="2015-11-06"|'''6 November 2015'''
|-
|3 || [[Marek Kotlinowski]] || {{color box|{{party color|Law and Justice}}}} PiS || data-sort-value="2006-11-06"|6 November 2006 || data-sort-value="2015-11-06"|'''6 November 2015'''
|-
|4 || {{ill|Zbigniew Cieślak|pl}} || {{color box|{{party color|Law and Justice}}}} PiS || data-sort-value="2006-12-02"|2 December 2006 || data-sort-value="2015-12-02"|'''2 December 2015'''
|-
|5 || {{ill|Teresa Liszcz|pl}} || {{color box|{{party color|Law and Justice}}}} PiS || data-sort-value="2006-12-08"|8 December 2006 || data-sort-value="2015-12-08"|'''8 December 2015'''
|-
|6 || {{ill|Mirosław Granat|pl}} || {{color box|{{party color|Law and Justice}}}} PiS || data-sort-value="2007-04-27"|27 April 2007 || data-sort-value="2016-04-27"|27 April 2016
|-
|7 || [[Andrzej Rzepliński]] (President) || {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} PO || data-sort-value="2007-12-19"|19 December 2007 || data-sort-value="2016-12-16"|19 December 2016
|-
|8 || {{ill|Stanisław Biernat|pl}} (Vice-President) || {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} PO || data-sort-value="2008-06-26"|26 June 2008 || data-sort-value="2017-06-26"|26 June 2017
|-
|9 || [[Sławomira Wronkowska-Jaśkiewicz]] || {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} PO || data-sort-value="2010-05-06"|6 May 2010 || data-sort-value="2019-05-06"|6 May 2019
|-
|10 || {{ill|Stanisław Rymar|pl}} || {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} PO || data-sort-value="2010-12-03"|3 December 2010 || data-sort-value="2019-12-03"|3 December 2019
|-
|11 || {{ill|Piotr Tuleja|pl}} || {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} PO || data-sort-value="2010-12-03"|3 December 2010 || data-sort-value="2019-12-03"|3 December 2019
|-
|12 || {{ill|Marek Zubik|pl}} || {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} PO || data-sort-value="2010-12-03"|3 December 2010 || data-sort-value="2019-12-03"|3 December 2019
|-
|13 || {{ill|Małgorzata Pyziak-Szafnicka|pl}} || {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} PO || data-sort-value="2011-01-05"|5 January 2011 || data-sort-value="2020-01-05"|5 January 2020
|-
|14 || [[Andrzej Wróbel]] || {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} PO || data-sort-value="2011-05-29"|29 May 2011 || data-sort-value="2020-05-29"|29 May 2020
|-
|15 || [[Leon Kieres]] || {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} PO || data-sort-value="2012-07-23"|23 July 2012 || data-sort-value="2021-07-23"|23 July 2021
|-
|colspan=5|{{Legend|{{party color|Law and Justice}}|Nominated by PiS or its coalition partners (2006–2007)}}
|-
|colspan=5|{{Legend|{{party color|Civic Platform}}|Nominated by PO or its coalition partners (2007–2015)}}
|}
The Constitutional Tribunal (TC) of Poland was founded in 1982 by the government of the [[Polish People's Republic]]. It oversees the actions of government, including legislative action, to ensure compliance with the [[Constitution of Poland]]. Judges are elected to the court by the [[Sejm]] and approved by the [[President of Poland|President]]. The court is made up of 15 judges who serve single nine-year terms and which point they are replaced through agreement of the Sejm and President.[{{Cite web|title=The Constitutional Tribunal of the Republic of Poland|url=http://www.bbcj.eu/the-constitutional-tribunal-of-the-republic-of-poland/|access-date=2020-11-15|website=Association of Constitutional Justice of the Countries of the Baltic and Black Sea Regions|language=en-US}}] In 2015, before the crisis, the court was made up of ten justices nominated by the [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] [[Civic Platform]] (PO) and five justices nominated by the [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Nationalism|nationalist]] [[Law and Justice (Poland)|Law and Justice]] Party (PiS).
=== Abortion law in Poland ===
{{Main|Abortion in Poland}}
In Poland, it was illegal{{When|date=February 2022}} to have an abortion except where the mother's life was at risk, the pregnancy was a result of rape or if the foetus had "severe and irreparable" impairment. The largely Christian conservative base of PiS follow the [[Catholic Church and abortion|Catholic Church teaching on abortion]]. In 2017, a [[Pew Research Center]] poll showed 51% of Poles thought abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.[{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=May 2015|title=Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe|url=https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/05/09154356/Central-and-Eastern-Europe-Topline_FINAL-FOR-PUBLICATION.pdf|access-date=|website=[[Pew Research Center]]}}]
=== 2015 Polish presidential election ===
{{multiple image
| align = left
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 250
| header = [[2015 Polish presidential election]]
| image1 = Andrzej Duda (9851867824) (cropped).jpg
| alt1 = Andrzej Duda
| caption1 = [[Andrzej Duda]], [[Law and Justice (Poland)|Law and Justice]] (PiS)
| image2 = KPRP 20130131 WG 305 BRONISLAW KOMOROWSKI.jpg
| alt2 = Bronisław Komorowski
| caption2 = [[Bronisław Komorowski]], endorsed by [[Civic Platform]] (PO)
}}
In May 2015, [[Andrzej Duda]] was elected as [[President of Poland]] with a populist platform, defeating incumbent [[Bronisław Komorowski]] of the Civic Platform. Prior to the election, Komorowski was believed to be the favourite to win.[{{Cite news|date=2015-05-25|title=Poland election: President Komorowski loses to rival Duda|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32862772|access-date=2020-11-24}}] Duda promised to block the Constitutional Tribunal nominations of the Civic Platform-controlled Sejm until after the [[2015 Polish parliamentary election]]. The outcome has been described as a shock in many media, as observers feared a potential conflict between Poland and the European Union as well as Duda's authoritarian tendency.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS17111278820150522|title = Why Poland's presidential election may shake up the European Union|newspaper = Reuters|date = 22 May 2015|last1 = Cichowlas|first1 = Ola}}][{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b72a065a-02d4-11e5-8333-00144feabdc0|title=Duda presidential victory stuns Poland|first=Henry|last=Foy|newspaper=Financial Times|date=May 25, 2015}}]
=== European migrant crisis ===
Following the election of Duda, relations between the European Union and Poland soured, especially in relation to the ongoing [[European migrant crisis]], where Duda refused to be part of the European migrant quota plan managed by the [[European Asylum Support Office]], causing the EU to initiate sanctions procedures against Poland and other [[Visegrád Group]] member states.[{{Cite news|date=2015-09-08|title=Poland's Duda Blasts EU 'Dictate of the Strong' on Migrants|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-08/polish-president-blasts-eu-dictate-of-the-strong-on-migrants|access-date=2021-02-12}}][{{Cite web|date=2017-06-13|title=EU opens sanctions procedure against Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic over refugees|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-opens-sanctions-procedure-against-hungary-poland-and-czech-republic-over-refugees/|access-date=2021-02-12|website=www.euractiv.com|language=en-GB}}][{{cite web|last=|first=|date=8 February 2017|title=Relocation and Resettlement – State of Play|url=https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/20170208_factsheet_on_relocation_and_resettlement_en.pdf|access-date=12 February 2021|website=|publisher=European Commission}}]
== First Duda term ==
=== 2015 Constitutional Court crisis ===
{{Main|2015 Polish Constitutional Court crisis}}
{{multiple image
|align = right
|direction = vertical
| total_width = 250
|image1 = Warszawa t konstytucyjny.jpg
|alt1 = The Constitutional Court building
|caption1 = The Constitutional Court in Warsaw
|image2 = Demonstracja Komitetu Obrony Demokracji 04.JPG
|alt2 = Protestors in Warsaw waving Polish and European flags
|caption2 = Protests against the appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Tribunal at rally organised by the [[Committee for the Defence of Democracy]]
|image3 = Demonstration of supporters of changes to the law on the Constitutional Tribunal in Poland 13 12 2015.JPG
|alt3 = Protestors in Warsaw waving Polish flags
|caption3 = Protestors for the changes to the Constitutional Tribunal at a [[Law and Justice (Poland)|Law and Justice]] rally
}}
Between the election of Duda and the start of the [[List of Sejm members (2015–2019)|8th Sejm]] on 12 November 2015, 5 seats on the TC were due to expire. The [[List of Sejm members (2011–2015)|7th Sejm]], controlled by PO and its allies completed its election process for replacement judges; however, Duda refused to swear in these nominees until after the sitting of the 8th Sejm.[{{Cite web|last=Szczerbiak|first=Aleks|date=31 December 2015|title=Who is winning Poland's 'constitutional tribunal war'?|url=https://polishpoliticsblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/who-is-winning-polands-constitutional-tribunal-war/|work=The Polish Politics Blog}}] Following the [[2015 Polish parliamentary election]] in October 2015, PiS took control of the Sejm and elected its own five replacement judges, who were elected on 2 December and sworn in on 3 December by Duda.[{{Cite web|last=Kisilowski|first=Maciej|date=2015-12-08|title=Poland's 'overnight court' breaks all the rules|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/law-vs-justice-poland-constitution-judges/|access-date=2016-03-30|website=Politico|language=en-US}}] PO claimed this was unlawful,[{{cite web|date=8 December 2015|title=President Duda won't implement constitutional tribunal ruling|url=http://wbj.pl/president-duda-wont-implement-constitutional-tribunal-ruling/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105182813/http://wbj.pl/president-duda-wont-implement-constitutional-tribunal-ruling/|archive-date=2016-01-05|access-date=2015-12-27|work=[[Warsaw Business Journal]]}}]
The president of the Constitutional Tribunal dictated that the new five judges should not hear cases until the situation was settled; in order to combat this, PiS passed a series of laws through the Sejm and Senate which compelled the TC to allow the judges to hear new cases. The new legislation was signed into law on 28 December. In January 2016, the TC ruled the five new judges elected by the 8th Sejm were legally appointed, but in March 2016 ruled the new legislation unconstitutional. The latter ruling was ignored by the Polish government, which considered the ruling "advisory".[{{cite web|last=Goettig|first=Marcin|date=22 December 2015|title=Polish parliament passes contentious amendment to top court law|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/poland-constitution-crisis-idUSL8N14B2UG20151222|work=Reuters}}][{{cite web|date=12 March 2016|title=Polish protests as government rejects court ruling|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35793914|work=BBC News}}] The crisis provoked outrage in the European Union which began an investigation into Poland under [[Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union]], describing the situation as threatening the [[rule of law]].[{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Commission adopts Rule of Law Opinion on the situation in Poland|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_16_2015|access-date=2020-11-29|publisher=European Commission|language=en}}][{{Cite news|date=2016-01-13|title=Bruxelles lance une enquête préliminaire inédite sur la situation de l'Etat de droit en Pologne|language=fr|newspaper=Le Monde|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2016/01/13/bruxelles-lance-une-enquete-preliminaire-inedite-sur-la-situation-de-l-etat-de-droit-en-pologne_4846618_3214.html|access-date=2016-12-04|issn=1950-6244}}] Protests both for and against the government of Poland occurred in [[Warsaw]] and other major Polish cities.[{{cite press release|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-2017_en.htm|title=Commission Opinion on the Rule of Law in Poland and the Rule of Law Framework: Questions & Answers|date=1 June 2016|publisher=[[European Commission]]}}][{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/01/poland-gets-official-warning-from-eu-over-constitutional-court-changes|title=Poland gets official warning from EU over constitutional court changes|work=The Guardian| date=1 June 2016}}] Iverna McGowan, director of [[Amnesty International]]'s European Institutes office in Brussels, commented: "The willingness of the commission to use the rule-of-law framework is a positive step towards a more serious approach by the EU to speak out and hold its own member states to account on their human rights records."[{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/eu-begins-assessment-of-poland-over-controversial-new-laws-1.2495394 |title=EU begins assessment of Poland over controversial new laws| newspaper=The Irish Times| date=13 January 2016}}] Hungary declared that it will oppose any sanctions against Poland.[{{cite web|url=http://www.tvp.info/23588427/blaszczak-zadne-sankcje-na-polske-nie-zostana-nalozone|title=Błaszczak: żadne sankcje na Polskę nie zostaną nałożone|author=dmilo, k|date=14 January 2016}}]
On 11 March 2016, the [[Venice Commission]] of the [[Council of Europe]], having been asked for an opinion by the Polish government in December 2015, assessed the amendments as crippling the Court's effectiveness and undermining democracy, human rights and the rule of law.[{{cite web|url=http://wbj.pl/venice-commission-criticizes-changes-to-top-constitutional-court/|title=Venice Commission criticizes changes to top constitutional court|website=[[Warsaw Business Journal]]|date=11 March 2016|access-date=16 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312155509/http://wbj.pl/venice-commission-criticizes-changes-to-top-constitutional-court/|archive-date=12 March 2016|url-status=dead}}] On 13 April 2016, the European Parliament passed a resolution, by 513 votes to 142 and with 30 abstentions, declaring that the Parliament was "seriously concerned that the effective paralysis of the Constitutional Tribunal in Poland endangers democracy, human rights and the rule of law."[{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/world/europe/poland-eu-parliament.html |title=EU accuses Polish Government of undermining Democracy|work=The New York Times| date=13 April 2016}}]
{{Cite web| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-eu-parliament-idUSKCN0XA1BH |title=Poland court 'paralysis' threatens democracy|work=Reuters|date=13 April 2016}} In July 2016, the [[European Commission]] issued a statement outlining its recommendations regarding "the rule of law in Poland", including the swearing-in of the three judges elected by the 7th Sejm and the adherence to the March 2016 TC ruling declaring that changes to the structure and functioning of the TC were unconstitutional.[{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Commission Opinion on the Rule of Law in Poland and the Rule of Law Framework: Questions & Answers|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/memo_16_2017|access-date=2020-12-13|publisher=[[European Commission]]|language=en|date=1 June 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240717190357/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/memo_16_2017|archive-date=2024-07-17|url-status=}}]
=== 2016 protests ===
==== Sejm crisis ====
{{Main|December 2016 Polish protests}}
[[File:Protest opozycji Sejm 16 grudnia 2016 Flickr Platformy Obywatelskiej.jpg|alt=Opposition MPs in the Polish parliament holding placards and protesting|thumb|Opposition MPs protesting against limits on press freedom]]
In 2016, the government passed legislation which only allowed a small number of journalists and TV stations to report from parliament. This was seen as a continuation of PiS anti-journalistic policy, and resulted in protests. Inside the parliament building, opposition MPs staged a sit-in, forcing government legislators to pass bills elsewhere, and protestors outside the building gathered, shouting "freedom, equality, democracy".[{{Cite news|date=2016-12-18|title=Poland protests: Crowds renew calls for press freedom|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38352742|access-date=2020-11-29}}]
==== Black Protest ====
{{Further|Abortion in Poland#Black Protest}}
The 8th Sejm held debates on reforming abortion law in Poland, in order to make them more restrictive. The votes on the new restrictive abortion legislation took place on 6 October and were voted down due to domestic and international pressure. Despite a lack of legislative changes, PiS MPs began ligation in order to see abortion become more restrictive.
=== 2017 Supreme Court crisis ===
{{See also|Supreme Court of Poland}}
In 2017 the Sejm and Senate passed a law mandating retirement for all judges aged over 70, unless given an exemption by the [[Ministry of Justice (Poland)|Minister of Justice]]. Following widespread protests this law was vetoed by Duda. A revised bill, mandating retirement at aged 65 was eventually passed and signed by Duda, giving significant control to the government over judges and their livelihoods.[{{Cite web|date=2017-07-20|title=Poland: Draft Law Threatens Supreme Court|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/07/20/poland-draft-law-threatens-supreme-court|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}}][{{Cite web|last=Brzozowski|first=Alexandra|date=2019-11-05|title=Poland's 2017 judicial reform broke EU law, bloc's top court rules|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/polands-2017-judicial-reform-broke-eu-law-blocs-top-court-rules/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Euractiv|language=en-GB}}] In December 2017, the European Commission warned that "over a period of two years the Polish authorities have adopted more than 13 laws affecting the entire structure of the justice system in Poland", stating that "Article 7(1) of the [[Treaty on European Union]] provides for [[Council of the European Union|the Council]], acting by a majority of four fifths of its members, to determine that there is a clear risk of a serious breach by a Member State of the common values referred to in Article 2 of the Treaty ... The Commission can trigger this process by a reasoned proposal."[{{cite web|first1=Joanna |last1=Berendt|first2=Marc |last2=Santora|date=December 17, 2018|title=Poland Reverses Supreme Court Purge, Retreating From Conflict With E.U.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/world/europe/poland-supreme-court.html|access-date=December 18, 2018|website=[[The New York Times]]}}] In April 2020, the ECJ ruled that Poland had still "failed to fulfil its obligations" under the [[Treaties of the European Union]].[{{Cite web|author=Court of Justice of the European Union|date=8 April 2020|title=Commission v Poland (Press Release)|url=https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2020-04/cp200047en.pdf|access-date=|publisher=Court of Justice of the European Union}}]
=== Deforestation ===
[[File:Bialowieza National Park in Poland0029.JPG|alt=A fallen tree covered in moss|thumb|A fallen tree in [[Białowieża Forest]]]]
[[Białowieża Forest]], an [[ancient woodland]] and [[World Heritage Site]], has been subjected to large-scale logging since 2017.[{{Cite news|last=Davies|first=Christian|date=2017-05-23|title='My worst nightmares are coming true': last major primeval forest in Europe on 'brink of collapse'|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/23/worst-nightmare-europes-last-primeval-forest-brink-collapse-logging|access-date=2021-02-12|issn=0261-3077}}] 190,000 cubic metres (160,000–180,000 trees) of wood were felled in 2017 alone.[{{Cite web|title=Białowieza: destructive logging in Polish Primeval Forest|url=https://www.europeandatajournalism.eu/News/Data-news/Bialowieza-destructive-logging-in-Polish-Primeval-Forest|access-date=2021-02-12|website=European Data Journalism Network|language=en-GB}}][{{Cite web|title=Scars of the Primeval Forest – What Really Happened in the Oldest Forest of Europe|url=https://infografiki.wyborcza.pl/wyrok-na-puszcze/en|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Gazeta Wyborcza}}] The European Commission sued Poland at the European Court of Justice, which ruled that logging must be immediately halted as Poland had failed to fulfil its obligations under the [[Habitats Directive]] and the [[Birds Directive]],[{{Cite web|agency=Reuters|date=2017-07-28|title=EU court orders Poland to stop logging in Białowieża forest|url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/28/eu-court-orders-poland-to-stop-logging-in-bialowieza-forest|access-date=2021-02-12|website=The Guardian|language=en}}][{{Cite web|last=European Court of Justice|date=17 April 2018|title=The forest management operations concerning the Puszcza Białowieska Natura 2000 site that have been undertaken by Poland infringe EU law|url=https://www.politico.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/B_forest_ECJ.pdf|access-date=2021-02-12|website=[[Politico EU]]}}][{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=C-441/17 - Commission v Poland (Białowieża Forest)|url=http://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?num=C-441/17|access-date=2021-02-12|website=curia.europa.eu}}] and threatened to [[Fine (penalty)|fine]] the Polish state.[{{Cite web|date=2017-11-21|title=Poland faces €100,000-a-day fines over illegal logging in Białowieża forest|url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/21/poland-faces-100000-a-day-fines-over-illegal-logging-in-biaowieza-forest|access-date=2021-02-12|website=The Guardian|language=en}}] [[UNESCO]] also requested that the Polish government halt logging in the area.[{{Cite web|date=2017-07-06|title=UNESCO urges Poland to stop logging ancient forest|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/central-europe/news/unesco-urges-poland-to-stop-logging-ancient-forest/|access-date=2021-02-12|website=Euractiv|language=en-GB}}] Despite this, the Polish government has continued to allow logging in Białowieża Forest, although at "lower intensity" according to [[Greenpeace|Greenpeace Poland]],[{{Cite web|agency=Agence France-Presse |date=2017-07-31|title=Poland vows to continue logging in Białowieża forest despite court ban|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/31/poland-continue-logging-biaowieza-forest-despite-eu-court-ban|access-date=2021-02-12|website=The Guardian|language=en}}] under the pretext of a [[bark beetle]] infestation, a pretext which has been twice rejected by the ECJ.[{{Cite web|date=2018-04-17|title=Poland violated EU laws by logging in Białowieża forest, court rules|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/17/poland-violated-eu-laws-by-logging-in-biaowieza-forest-says-ecj|access-date=2021-02-12|website=The Guardian|language=en}}]
Several years later, it turned out that the [[bark beetle]] infestation got out of control, causing many more trees to die than would have been necessary, if the infestation had been controlled, by removing all infested and dead trees. Additionally, bordering private forests were lost to the infestation. The owners sued the government for not containing the infestation in time, claiming that the damage could have been prevented, had the expertise of their rangers and forest officials not been overruled by activists and foreign political entities.[{{Cite web|url=https://regiony.tvp.pl/44952051/inwazja-kornika-drukarza-wlasciciele-lasow-prywatnych-winia-lesnikow|title=Inwazja kornika drukarza. Właściciele lasów prywatnych winią leśników|website=Telewizja Polska}}]
=== LGBT-free zones ===
{{Main|LGBT-free zone}}
[[File:Krasnik lgbtfreezone 02.jpg|alt=|thumb|Illegally mounted street sign that created the confusion around the "LGBT Free Zones" and made the story go viral]]
In 2019 and 2020, LGBT-free zones were declared across many local authorities in Poland, with over 100 municipalities voting to declare themselves "LGBT-free", meaning free of the popular ideology in their public education programs.[{{cite news |last1=Ciobanu |first1=Claudia |title=A Third of Poland Declared 'LGBT-Free Zone' |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/02/25/a-third-of-poland-declared-lgbt-free-zone/ |access-date=20 September 2020 |work=Balkan Insight |date=25 February 2020}}] Whilst without legal backing, such declaration were found by the [[Council of Europe|European]] [[Commissioner for Human Rights]] as "stigmatisation" which "directly impact" LGBT citizens, contrary to the [[European Convention on Human Rights]] and likely prohibited by Article 34 of [[Constitution of Poland]].[{{Cite web|author=Commissioner for Human Rights|date=3 December 2020|title=Memorandum on the stigmatisation of LGBTI people in Poland|url=https://rm.coe.int/memorandum-on-the-stigmatisation-of-lgbti-people-in-poland/1680a08b8e|access-date=13 January 2021|publisher=[[Council of Europe]]}}] The European Union broadly denounced these declarations, with the [[European Parliament]] voting overwhelming to condemn such declarations.[{{Cite web|date=18 December 2019|title=European Parliament slams 'LGBTI-free' zones in Poland|url=https://www.dw.com/en/european-parliament-slams-lgbti-free-zones-in-poland/a-51722613|work=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}] An LGBT activist placed "LGBT-Free Zone" road signs in front of the towns, creating the impression that they were officially placed by the towns and photographed them. These pictures were then used by media outlets all around the world.[{{Cite web|url=https://notesfrompoland.com/2020/01/25/activist-signposts-polish-towns-as-lgbt-free-zone-in-protest-against-anti-lgbt-resolutions/|title=Activist signposts Polish towns as 'LGBT-free zones' in protest against anti-LGBT resolutions|work=Noted from Poland|date=January 25, 2020}}] The misleading presentation made the story go viral, so the young activist's success was recognized by a Obama foundation scholarship.[{{Cite web|url=https://bartstaszewski.pl/2020/09/01/bart-staszewski-announced-as-new-obama-foundation-european-leader/|title=Bart Staszewski Announced as New Obama Foundation European Leader|website=Bart Staszewski|date=September 1, 2020}}]
Polish opposition politicians, such as [[Robert Biedroń]], have compared the declaration to the {{lang|la|[[judenfrei]]}} zones created by the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]] in Poland.[{{Cite web|title=Polish magazine criticized for planning 'LGBT-free zone' stickers|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/polish-magazine-criticized-planning-lgbt-free-zone-stickers-n1031296|access-date=2021-01-13|website=NBC News|date=18 July 2019 |language=en}}] Due to the breach of Article 2 of the [[Maastricht Treaty]], the European Union's [[Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund]] can no longer be used in these areas; however, the Polish government pledged to fill the gap in funding to affected areas, in opposition to the EU but supported by the [[Catholic Church in Poland|Catholic Church]].[{{cite web|last1=Charlish|first1=Alan|last2=Florkiewicz|first2=Pawel|last3=Plucinska|first3=Joanna|date=18 August 2020|title=Polish 'LGBT-free' town gets state financing after EU funds cut|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-poland-eu-lgbt/polish-lgbt-free-town-gets-state-financing-after-eu-funds-cut-idUKKCN25E1RH|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819022349/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-poland-eu-lgbt/polish-lgbt-free-town-gets-state-financing-after-eu-funds-cut-idUKKCN25E1RH|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 19, 2020|website=[[Reuters]]}}][{{Cite web|last=Luxmoore|first=Jonathan|date=August 19, 2019|title=Church in Poland continues confrontation with the LGBTQ community|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/justice/church-poland-continues-confrontation-lgbtq-community|access-date=August 19, 2019|website=National Catholic Reporter}}] President [[Ursula von der Leyen]] said "LGBTQI-free zones are humanity free zones. And they have no place in our Union" during her [[State of the Union (European Union)|State of the Union]] speech in September 2020, indicating the strength of opposition in the European Union.[{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=16 September 2020|title=State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_20_1655|access-date=2021-01-13|publisher=European Commission|language=en}}]
=== 2019 judicial disciplinary panel law ===
{{Main|Polish judicial disciplinary panel law}}
On 20 December 2019 the Sejm voted to allow the [[Disciplinary Chamber]] of the Supreme Court of Poland to remove judges deemed to be partaking in "political activity". This gave the government ''de facto'' control of entire judicial arm of the state. The law also gave government greater control over appointment to the position of head judge of the Supreme Court of Poland. The law was criticised by the [[UN Human Rights Commission]] which stated the law "risks further undermining" the Polish judiciary.[{{cite web|title=Polish Lawmakers OK Disciplining Judges; EU Decries Move|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/12/20/world/europe/ap-eu-poland-judiciary.html|access-date=2019-12-21|website=The New York Times}}] The European Union also criticised the bill, with Poland risking further sanctions under Article 7 and by the European Court of Justice.[{{cite news|first=Jan |last=Strupczewski|title=Poland lower house adopts judiciary reform despite EU concerns|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-eu-judges/poland-lower-house-adopts-judiciary-reform-despite-eu-concerns-idUSKBN1YO28G|access-date=2019-12-21|website=Reuters|date=20 December 2019}}] The Association of Judges of Ireland condemned the Polish legislation.[{{Cite news|last=Gallagher|first=Conor|title=Irish judges to condemn Polish government's judicial policy|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/irish-judges-to-condemn-polish-government-s-judicial-policy-1.4135175|access-date=January 12, 2020|newspaper=The Irish Times}}] [[Koen Lenaerts]], [[Court of Justice of the European Union#President|President of the Court of Justice of the European Union]], warned that "You can't be a member of the European Union if you don't have independent, impartial courts operating in accordance with fair trial rule, upholding union law".[{{Cite news|date=January 9, 2020|title=EU's top judge warns Poland over overhaul of judiciary|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-judiciary-eu-idUSKBN1Z81VV|access-date=January 12, 2020|last1=Ptak|first1=Alicja}}]
The Polish Supreme Court stated that the bill was a "[[Martial law in Poland|continuation of the lawlessness of the 1980s]]". According to the court: "Everything is there: a ban on the freedom of speech by judges, the establishment of a surveillance mechanism and a drastic reduction of their right to have profiles on social networks".[{{Cite web|date=December 18, 2019|title=Mass protests erupt across Poland over plan to punish judges|url=https://apnews.com/e26d62993f66c106045d57e80a8ff6ab|access-date=January 12, 2020|website=AP News}}] The Polish Supreme Court, prior to the bill passing, said that Poland overruling the primacy of EU law may force it out of the bloc.[{{cite web|title=Poland could be forced to leave EU by its judicial reforms, top court says|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/12/18/poland-could-be-forced-to-leave-eu-by-its-judicial-reforms-top-court-says|access-date=2019-12-21|website=Euronews|date=18 December 2019}}][{{Cite web|work=Deutsche Welle |title=Poland's judicial reforms put EU membership at risk, warns top court |date=17 December 2019 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/polands-judicial-reforms-put-eu-membership-at-risk-warns-top-court/a-51711735|access-date=January 12, 2020}}] [[Donald Tusk]], former [[European Council]] president, warned the bill might force Poland out of the EU. Ombudsman [[Adam Bodnar]] said the law "violates the Constitution and the ground rules of the rule of law" and "would definitively put Polish courts and judges under the control of the legislative and executive branches of government". Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers [[Diego García Sayán]] and President of the European Association of Judges José Igreja Matos warned the legislation "runs contrary to judicial independence".[{{Cite web|date=December 17, 2019|title=Time is fast running out for judicial independence in PiS-ruled Poland |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/12/17/time-is-fast-running-out-for-judicial-independence-in-pis-ruled-poland-view|access-date=January 12, 2020|website=euronews}}]
=== COVID-19 reporting ===
{{Further|COVID-19 pandemic in Poland}}
[[File:Adam Bodnar 2019a.jpg|alt=A portrait photo of Adam Bodnar|thumb|[[Adam Bodnar]], [[Polish Ombudsman]] since 2015, is responsible for defending human rights in Poland and has criticised the Polish government throughout this crisis.]]
On 20 March 2020, the secretary of state of the Ministry of Health, [[Józefa Szczurek-Żelazko]], sent a written statement ordering voivodeship medical consultants to not make statements about SARS-CoV-2, the epidemiological situation, the risks for medical staff or methods of protection from infection, unless they had first consulted with the Ministry of Health or {{ill|Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny|pl}}. Szczurek-Żelazko motivated the order by the need to provide correct, unified information and to avoid unjustified unrest in the medical community.[{{Cite web|date=20 March 2020|title=Letter from Józef Szczurek-Żelazko to consultants|url=https://twitter.com/PChSKALPEL/status/1242882805685723151/photo/1/|url-access=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200330105257/https://twitter.com/PChSKALPEL/status/1242882805685723151/photo/1|archive-date=30 March 2020|access-date=30 March 2020|website=Twitter}}]{{primary inline|date=April 2025}}
A surgeons' group, {{Lang|pl|Porozumienie Chirurgów SKALPEL}}, described the order as [[blackmail]] and said that it risked catastrophe. The group stated that the COVID-19 pandemic showed Poland as "not at all prepared for crisis situations" with a "lack of equipment, basic personal protective gear and disinfectant materials and a lack of standards and procedures".[{{Cite news|date=2020-03-26|title=Ministerstwo Zdrowia chce kontrolować wypowiedzi wojewódzkich konsultantów medycznych|language=pl|trans-title=The Minister of Health wants to control voivodeship medical consultants' freedom of speech|work=[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]|url=https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,173952,25823872,ministerstwo-zdrowia-chce-kontrolowac-wypowiedzi-wojewodzkich.html|url-status=live|url-access=|access-date=2020-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327015229/https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,173952,25823872,ministerstwo-zdrowia-chce-kontrolowac-wypowiedzi-wojewodzkich.html|archive-date=2020-03-27}}] On 25 March 2020, the [[Polish Ombudsman]] [[Adam Bodnar]] sent a letter to the Minister of Health, Szumowski, stating that medical staff's freedom of speech and is guaranteed under [[wikisource:Constitution of the Republic of Poland/Chapter 1|Articles 2]] and [[wikisource:Constitution of the Republic of Poland/Chapter 2|54 of the Polish Constitution]] and the right of the public to information is guaranteed under [[wikisource:Constitution of the Republic of Poland/Chapter 2|Article 61]] of the constitution. Bodnar stated that firing or punishing doctors for informing the public during the pandemic could be a violation of the "obligatory standards". Bodnar asked if Szumowski was aware of the situation and requested a clarification of policy.[{{Cite web|last=Mielcarek|first=Mariusz|date=2020-03-26|title=Pielęgniarki – położna napisała jak jest w szpitalu. Została zwolniona!|trans-title=Nurses – a midwife wrote about the situation in a hospital. She was fired!|url=https://www.pielegniarki.info.pl/article/view/id/10720|url-access=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200327204145/https://www.pielegniarki.info.pl/article/view/id/10720|archive-date=2020-03-27|access-date=2020-03-27|website=Portal Pielęgniarek i Położnych|language=pl}}]
=== 2019–2020 elections ===
{{multiple image
| align = left
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 250
| header = [[2020 Polish presidential election]]
| image1 = Andrzej Duda (9851867824) (cropped).jpg
| alt1 = Andrzej Duda
| caption1 = [[Andrzej Duda]], endorsed by [[Law and Justice (Poland)|Law and Justice]] (PiS)
| image2 = Rafał Trzaskowski (EPP Summit, Zagreb, 2019).jpg
| alt2 = Rafał Trzaskowski
| caption2 = [[Rafał Trzaskowski]], [[Civic Platform]] (KO)
}}
In 2019 and 2020, PiS and the United Right retained control of the parliament and presidency of Poland. In the [[2019 Polish parliamentary election]], which had the highest turnout since the fall of [[History of Poland (1945–1989)|Communism in Poland]],[{{cite news|title=Poland celebrates record voter turnout since 1989 elections|agency=[[TVN24]]|url=https://www.tvn24.pl/tvn24-news-in-english,157,m/polish-parliementary-vote-highest-turnout-since-1989,977832.html|access-date=18 October 2019}}] PiS retained 43.59% of the popular vote for the Sejm and 44.56% of the vote for the Senate,[{{Cite web|title=Wybory do Sejmu i Senatu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 2019 r.|url=https://sejmsenat2019.pkw.gov.pl/sejmsenat2019/en/wyniki/senat/pl|access-date=2020-12-13|website=sejmsenat2019.pkw.gov.pl|language=pl}}] marking a positive [[Swing (politics)|swing]] in these elections. In 2020, the [[2020 Polish presidential election]] took place, with Duda winning with 51.03% of the vote. Independent observers from the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] found that [[Telewizja Polska]], the Polish [[public broadcasting]] service, was inappropriately and "clearly biased" towards Duda and PiS in both elections.[{{Cite news|last=Day|first=Matthew|date=2019-10-15|title=Biased state broadcaster left Polish voters with limited choice in election, report says|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/10/15/biased-state-broadcaster-left-polish-voters-limited-choice-election/|access-date=2020-12-13|issn=0307-1235}}][{{Cite web|title=Polish presidential election managed well despite legal uncertainties, but intolerance and public media bias tarnished campaign, international observers say|url=https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/poland/455731|access-date=2020-12-13|publisher=[[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]]|language=en}}]
== Second Duda term ==
=== LGBT rights ===
In August 2020, following the arrest of [[Margot (activist)|Margot]], an LGBT activist, several mass demonstrations took place across Poland. In central Warsaw, this protest degenerated and led to a violent police response, in turn resulting in further protest action. These protested against the "[[#LGBT-free zones|LGBT-free zones]]", police violence and human rights rollbacks by the government.[{{cite news|last1=Metcalfe|first1=Percy|date=12 August 2020|title="No apologies, no shame": the rise of Poland's guerrilla LGBT activists|work=Notes From Poland|url=https://notesfrompoland.com/2020/08/12/no-apologies-no-shame-the-rise-of-polands-guerrilla-lgbt-activists/|url-status=live|access-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905235035/https://notesfrompoland.com/2020/08/12/no-apologies-no-shame-the-rise-of-polands-guerrilla-lgbt-activists/|archive-date=5 September 2020}}][{{cite news|date=10 August 2020|title=Polish Stonewall? Protesters decry government's anti-LGBTQ attitudes|language=en|work=NBC News|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/polish-stonewall-protesters-decry-government-s-anti-lgbtq-attitudes-n1236273|url-status=live|access-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814135046/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/polish-stonewall-protesters-decry-government-s-anti-lgbtq-attitudes-n1236273|archive-date=14 August 2020}}][{{cite news|date=8 August 2020|title=W całym kraju demonstracje solidarności z osobami LGBT i "Margot"|language=pl|work=[[Onet.pl|Onet Wiadomości]]|url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/w-calym-kraju-demonstracje-solidarnosci-z-osobami-lgbt-i-margot/evtzwx3|url-status=live|access-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817140405/https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/w-calym-kraju-demonstracje-solidarnosci-z-osobami-lgbt-i-margot/evtzwx3|archive-date=17 August 2020}}] It has been described by some media outlets as "Poland's Stonewall".[{{Cite news|last=Sokolowski {{!}} AP|first=Monika Scislowska and Czarek|title=Desecration trial opens over LGBT rainbow put on Polish icon|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/poland-trial-starts-over-lgbt-symbol-on-revered-icon-posters/2021/01/13/a0eedb8c-55a2-11eb-acc5-92d2819a1ccb_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114214912/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/poland-trial-starts-over-lgbt-symbol-on-revered-icon-posters/2021/01/13/a0eedb8c-55a2-11eb-acc5-92d2819a1ccb_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2021-01-14|access-date=2021-01-13|issn=0190-8286}}]
=== Abortion rights ===
{{Main|2020–21 women's strike protests in Poland}}
[[File:02020 0691 Protest against abortion restriction in Kraków, October 2020.jpg|alt=A large crowd of protesters holding signs promoting women's rights in Polish|thumb|October 2020 protests against abortion restrictions in [[Kraków]], Poland]]
On 22 October 2020, the Constitutional Tribunal, with [[#2015 Constitutional Court crisis|disputed judges]], ruled that abortion in cases of disability or life-limiting illness were unconstitutional, further limiting abortion rights in Poland. The decision was nearly unanimous, with judges ruling 11–2 in favour of limiting abortion. The court found it violated the right to [[human dignity]] enshrined in the Polish constitution.[{{Cite web|date=2020-10-23|title=Poland: The Constitutional Court Repeals Eugenic Abortion|url=https://eclj.org/eugenics/eu/pologne--le-tribunal-constitutionnel-abroge-lavortement-eugenique?lng=en|website=ECLJ}}] This precipitated significant protests and civil unrest. Protests began on the day of the ruling, but have continued, especially in major cities such as [[Warsaw]], which saw an estimated 100,000 people protest on 30 October.[{{Cite web|date=30 October 2020|title=W całej Polsce protesty przeciwko zaostrzeniu aborcji. Trwa "Marsz na Warszawę", doszło do starć [RELACJA NA ŻYWO]|url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/strajk-kobiet-trwaja-protesty-ws-aborcji-w-polskich-miastach-relacja-na-zywo/y9we7n1|access-date=30 October 2020|website=Onet Wiadomości|language=pl}}] Protests continued throughout November and December 2020. On 27 January 2021, the ruling was formally published in ''[[Dziennik Ustaw]]'' and enforcement of the ruling began across Poland, precipitating further waves of unrest. Poland now has one of the most restrictive [[abortion law]]s in Europe, described as a "near-total ban" by the BBC as 98% of previous abortions in Poland took place under the laws now deemed unconstitutional.[{{Cite news|date=2021-01-28|title=Poland enforces controversial near-total abortion ban|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55838210|access-date=2021-02-02}}]
== Third Cabinet of Donald Tusk ==
In 2023, the [[Civic Coalition (Poland)|Civic Coalition]], a coalition led by [[Donald Tusk]], won the [[2023 Polish parliamentary election]], and the Tusk government began a series of measures to roll back Duda's reforms and to restore the rule of law to Poland, opposed by Duda, who remained President.[{{Cite web |date=2024-01-09 |title=Polish police arrest MPs as Tusk vs. Duda rule-of-law battle heats up |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-police-arrest-mps-andrzej-duda-donald-tusk-mariusz-kaminski-maciej-wasik/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Politico |language=en}}] In January 2024, two members of parliament whose conviction was disputed on the basis of disputed presidential pardons were arrested in the [[Polish presidential palace]], where Duda had given them refuge.[{{cite Q|Q127536041|url-status=live}}]
The Tusk government further contributed to the rule of law crisis: in August 2026, the government coalition under Tusk appointed its minister, [[Maciej Berek]], to the [[Constitutional Tribunal (Poland)|Constitutional Tribunal]], causing several foundations to protest the nomination.[{{cite news |date={{date|2026-08-21|DMY}} |last=Skoumal |first=Jan |title=HFPC i Fundacja Batorego apelują do Macieja Berka o rezygnację z kandydatury do TK |url=https://www.rp.pl/sady-i-trybunaly/art45034071-hfpc-i-fundacja-batorego-apeluja-do-macieja-berka-o-rezygnacje-z-kandydatury-do-tk |publisher=[[Rzeczpospolita (newspaper)|Rzeczpospolita]] |access-date=2026-08-27}}] An SW Research poll for ''[[Rzeczpospolita (newspaper)|Rzeczpospolita]]'' found that 59.7% of Poles believed the nomination ran against judicial independence and contributed to the politicization of the judiciary, while only 16.3% believed otherwise.[{{cite news |date={{date|2026-08-27|DMY}} |last=Mikowski |first=Mateusz |title=Sondaż: Polacy przeciwni wyborowi Macieja Berka do Trybunału Konstytucyjnego |url=https://www.rp.pl/sady-i-trybunaly/art45051241-sondaz-polacy-przeciwni-wyborowi-macieja-berka-do-trybunalu-konstytucyjnego |publisher=[[Rzeczpospolita (newspaper)|Rzeczpospolita]] |access-date=2026-08-27}}]
== Opposition groups ==
=== Domestic ===
==== Parliamentary parties ====
*[[Civic Coalition (Poland)|Civic Coalition]], the main opposition
*[[The Left (Poland)|The Left]], political alliance of left-wing parties
==== Other ====
*[[All-Poland Women's Strike]], social movement for women's rights
** [[Consultative Council (Poland)|Consultative Council]], strategy council for the All-Poland Women's Strike
*[[Campaign Against Homophobia]], gay rights organisation
*[[Citizens of Poland]], pro-democracy civic movement
* [[Committee for the Defence of Democracy]], [[NGO]] promoting "European values"
* [[Polish Judges Association "Iustitia"|Polish Judges Association]]
=== International ===
* [[Amnesty International]]
* [[European Union]]
*[[Greenpeace]]
* [[Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights]]
* [[Women on Web]]
== Role of the European Union ==
{{See also|Poland in the European Union|Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation}}
Under [[European Union law]], the European Court of Justice may declare that [[Member state of the European Union|member state]] law is incompatible with [[Treaties of the European Union]],[{{cite web |title=2021 Rule of Law Report: Country Chapter on the rule of law situation in Poland |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021SC0722 |date=20 July 2021 | access-date=23 December 2021 |publisher=European Commission}}] or disregard it as concerning one of the shared competences.[{{cite web |title=Areas of EU action | access-date=23 December 2021 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/about-european-commission/what-european-commission-does/law/areas-eu-action_en |publisher=European Commission}}] Examples of the former include [[judicial independence]], [[human rights]] (including [[women's rights]] and [[LGBT rights in the European Union|LGBT rights]]) and [[freedom of the press]]. Thus, several times from 2016 to 2020, the European Commission referred to a lack of [[rule of law]] in Poland, as Union law was not being applied.