Polish PM urges compromise in bitter political row

Szydło added she and Timmermans agreed that an ongoing row over the tribunal, which has caused bitter divisions in Poland and concern abroad, “is obviously a matter that Poland must resolve on its own, internally.”

Szydło said her meeting with Timmermans was “constructive”, adding: “The Polish government has proposed solutions that could be adopted by parliament, [and they] fulfill all the conditions to resolve the dispute around the tribunal." She did not give details.

Szydło’s comments signalled a markedly softer tone from the government in a rumbling dispute over the tribunal, which decides whether laws passed by parliament are in keeping with the Polish constitution.

Dialogue

Polish media widely reported earlier this week that the European Commission was expected to issue an opinion on Monday critical of the state of democracy and the rule of law in Poland under Szydło’s conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government.

Instead, Timmermans on Tuesday flew to Warsaw for talks.

In January, the European Commission said it was starting a "rule-of-law" probe into whether controversial laws pushed through by Law and Justice violate EU standards.

Political stalemate

Poland has been locked in a political stalemate after the Law and Justice party, which came to power in October, introduced sweeping reforms to the Constitutional Tribunal and other institutions, prompting anti-government protests and criticism from the EU.

The tribunal has rejected PiS-backed changes which, critics say, are designed to paralyse the court. PiS, in turn, has refused to recognise that ruling by the tribunal, claiming it is invalid. (pk)