On 15 April, the Polish Constitutional Court, controlled by the ruling PiS Government, ruled to remove Adam Bodnar from his post as Polish Ombudsman for Citizens Rights. This marked a sad day for the citizens of Poland, meaning in practice that there is no longer an institution protecting human rights in the country. The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament strongly condemns this decision.

"The dismissal of the mediator Adam Bodnar is unacceptable", said Renew Europe President Dacian Cioloş. Commenting further, he said: "The relentless efforts of the Polish authorities to dismantle the rule of law, piece by piece, is more evident than ever. Freedom-loving Polish citizens should know that they can count on the determination of Renew Europe to stand against those, who by their actions or words, undermine the founding principles of our European Union."

On the same day as the ruling, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice confirmed what the Renew Europe Group has continually stressed - there are enormous problems and concerns regarding the rule of law in Poland. Therefore, Renew Europe demands that the European Commission take immediate action to stop the Government from destroying the rule of law and judicial independence in Poland. 

Michal Šimečka MEP (Progressive Slovakia, SV), Vice-President of the Renew Europe Group and Renew Europe Shadow Rapporteur on Poland, concluded: "The European Commission should immediately launch an infringement proceeding and request the European Court of Justice to order Poland to restore the independence of the Constitutional Tribunal – a concern the Commission already identified in its Article 7 TEU submissions. Poland's ongoing non-compliance with previous decisions of the Court of Justice regarding judicial independence should also be met with financial penalties.”