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WARSAW, Poland (AP) — An international human rights commission began two days of meetings with Polish officials Monday to determine whether recent legal changes to Poland's Constitutional Tribunal are in line with democratic standards.
The Polish government requested the review by the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the human rights watchdog the Council of Europe, after legislation it put through last year sparked street protests and international criticism.
The Council of Europe is not part of the European Union and the Venice Commission's judgment, expected in March, is not legally binding. Nonetheless, it is expected to influence an ongoing EU investigation into whether Poland's new right-wing government has carried out "systemic" violations of the rule of law.
The EU is concerned about the legal changes to the constitutional court, which make it harder for the court to strike down legislation, as well as a refusal by the country's new leadership to allow three judges onto the court who were chosen legally by the previous centrist government.
The EU is also worried about a new media law that gives the government greater control over state broadcasters.
The head of the Venice Commission, Gianni Buquicchio, met Monday morning with President Andrzej Duda. Over the next two days there will be many more meetings involving Polish judicial authorities and other members of the commission, who are experts in constitutional and international law.
Soon after sweeping to power late last year, the Law and Justice party used its majority in parliament to quickly enact legislative changes. That sparked a huge outcry from critics who say the party went too far and violated democratic norms.
The government of Prime Minister Beata Szydlo argues that deep institutional change is necessary if the new leaders are to fulfill promises to voters who support their conservative and national agenda.
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