EU warns Poland over controversial judicial reform bills

The European Union (EU) has warned Poland of suspending its voting rights after the country recently approved two controversial judicial reforms that would give the government broad powers in the nomination of judges.

The EU said that it "stands ready" to take action if the Poland Government continues to push through the controversial bills.

Poland has been given a month to respond.

The EU rules state that if there is "a clear risk of a serious breach" of the values of the rule of law, then the EU authorities may suspend voting rights of the country at the European Council, reports Anadolu.

President Andrzej Duda this week approved two out of four bills which would give the government broad powers over the nomination of judges.

Protests erupted last Sunday in the capital Warsaw and other major cities when thousands of people took to the streets for eight days against the amendments put forward by Poland's ruling Law and Justice Party.

Duda later vetoed one reform which would have seen the Supreme Court judges replaced by government nominees.

First vice-president of the EU Commission, Frans Timmermans, remarked that the reforms in Poland may "increase significantly the systemic threat to [the] rule of law".

"We will watch developments vigilantly and act accordingly," he added in a statement.