Poland’s election: judicial independence at stake

Poland votes on Sunday in a presidential election runoff between Rafał Trzaskowski from the ruling liberal party and nationalist Karol Nawrocki, backed by the Law and Justice party. The party, in power from 2015 to 2023, clashed with the EU over judicial reforms that undermined court independence, a key democratic pillar and EU accession criterion. Judges protested these changes, becoming symbols of resistance for liberals and targets for nationalists. They now criticise the new government for not reversing the reforms – and fear a Law and Justice comeback. Gulliver Cragg reports