RantCrush Top 5: July 21, 2017

The party that currently rules Poland, the conservative Law and Justice party, is attempting to overhaul the judicial system. But many are concerned that such reform is going to seriously weaken the country’s system of checks and balances. The party wants to remove a number of judges and give itself the power to appoint replacements, among other mechanisms. Opponents of these moves have taken to the streets in protest, claiming that democracy is in danger in Poland.

Demonstrators poured into streets across Poland to protest what some say is the impending death of democracy there https://t.co/x0sU65d09h pic.twitter.com/aoeoChoVys

— CNN (@CNN) July 21, 2017

Concerns are coming from outside of Poland as well. European Union officials have said that if the country’s leadership continues down this route, it may look into suspending Poland’s voting rights. The EU has never triggered that rule before, but apparently the issue has become dire enough to warrant it.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.