Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14650 | 12 October 2018

Judges in Poland and in the Republic of Moldova must remain independent

Signatories: Ms Azadeh ROJHAN GUSTAFSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Thorhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, Iceland, SOC ; Ms Hannah BARDELL, United Kingdom, NR ; Ms Doris BARNETT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Reina de BRUIJN-WEZEMAN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Mr Vernon COAKER, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Stella CREASY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Paul GAVAN, Ireland, UEL ; Mr Jonas GUNNARSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Zita GURMAI, Hungary, SOC ; Ms Gabriela HEINRICH, Germany, SOC ; Ms Eva-Lena JANSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Susan Elan JONES, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Ian MURRAY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Andreas NICK, Germany, EPP/CD ; Ms Carina OHLSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Joseph O'REILLY, Ireland, EPP/CD ; Mr Andrea ORLANDO, Italy, NR ; Mr Roberto RAMPI, Italy, NR ; Ms Ulla SANDBÆK, Denmark, UEL ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Mr Frank SCHWABE, Germany, SOC ; Ms Olena SOTNYK, Ukraine, ALDE ; Ms Tineke STRIK, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Petra De SUTTER, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Mart van de VEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Mr Martin WHITFIELD, United Kingdom, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Independence of the judiciary is being seriously undermined in the Republic of Moldova and Poland by their current governments.

In the Republic of Moldova, courts unduly influenced by Vlad Plahotniuc invalidated the democratic mayoral election in Chisinau, after the victory of the opposition candidate Andrei Nastase. This sparked protests and criticism undermining the European Union’s trust in the country’s intention to integrate and setting a dangerous precedent.

The case of Domnica Manole, who handed down judgements inconvenient for the authorities, is a striking example of political prosecution of a judge.

In Poland, courts remain the last resort for numerous prosecuted civil rights activists.

“Disobedient” judges, such as Igor Tuleya, Wojciech Łączewski, Dominik Czeszkiewicz, and Waldemar Żurek, face disciplinary consequences from court newly-appointed presidents.

The government is forcing Supreme Court judges to retire and appointing new, obedient ones. The newly-adopted Act undermines the independence of this authority, in the face of the upcoming elections. This creates the possibility for the government not only to act arbitrarily, but even to distort the elections’ results.

Dismantling the independence of the judiciary and manipulating its rulings for political gains bears signs of usurpation of power by legislative and executive powers.

The Parliamentary Assembly should consider the independence of the judiciary in the Republic of Moldova and Poland and should make recommendations, in order to urge the governments of these two member States to restore the independence of the judiciary and constitutional order in line with their European and international obligations.