On 8 May the Polish Government notified the European Commission of the implementation of the Court of Justice of the European Union’s order of 8 April requesting the immediate suspension of the new provisions of the disciplinary regime for judges (see EUROPE 12464/27).
Justice spokesman Christian Wigand confirmed, on 11 May, that the Polish authorities “have replied”, informing the Commission “of the implementation” of the Court's decision. “We will now analyse” this response, the spokesman added.
In January, the Commission had asked the Court of Justice of the European Union to stop the activities of the new disciplinary chamber of the Polish Supreme Court until the Court had delivered its ruling. The matter was referred to the Court at the end of 2019. In the meantime, the Commission has opened a new infringement front against the Warsaw decision to further extend the scope of this disciplinary court (see EUROPE 12264/29).
On the other hand, the Commission had not been able to impose the postponement of the presidential elections in the country, which it criticised for being maintained despite the pandemic, but which are strictly the responsibility of the Member States. However, by decision of the Polish government, these were not held on Sunday 10 May as planned. As the ballot was declared invalid because there was no turnout, the country's electoral commission has to set a new date for these elections within the next two weeks. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)