Eyeing troubled EU ties, Poland’s president fires top ministers

WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland’s ruling conservatives fired several senior government ministers on Tuesday in an apparent move to improve relations with the European Union, strained over accusations that Warsaw is subverting rule of law standards.

Facing unprecedented EU legal action over the alleged politicization of Poland’s judiciary, the Law and Justice (PiS) party may want to ease tensions in other areas, such as environment policy and defense, analysts say.

The changes also came with the EU about to embark on negotiations on a new seven-year budget that will decide which member states get what out of the bloc’s coffers – with Poland currently the biggest net recipient.

President Andrzej Duda, acting on recommendations of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, dismissed Environment Minister Jan Szyszko, who has spearheaded far-reaching logging in an ancient forest in Poland that prompted action by the European Court of Justice.

Also losing their job were Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz, a former anti-communist crusader facing criticism over delays in army modernization and conflicts with top generals, as well as Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski, seen in Brussels as an ineffective diplomat.

The reshuffle followed the appointment of former banker and finance minister Morawiecki as prime minister, replacing Beata Szydlo last month at the midpoint of the parliamentary term. PiS faces local elections in late 2018 and legislative and presidential ballots in 2019 and 2020.

It remains to be seen whether Morawiecki will improve Warsaw’s relations with Brussels. He heads to Brussels later on Tuesday for talks.

Judicial reforms at the heart of the dispute with Brussels are seen by PiS as a fundamental element of its efforts to overhaul Poland’s democratic institutions.

PiS believes reforms are needed because the country has lost sight of its Catholic soul and is steeped in a mentality and power structures dating to the post-war communist era.

Critics say that the government’s efforts to wield control over courts and public media are tilting Poland toward authoritarian rule.