European Parliament head defends remarks about 'Polish coup d'état'

“I did not criticise Poles, but the government, and there's a difference” Schulz told reporters in Strasbourg.

“I see a very controversial situation in Poland,” he said, referring to the ongoing row about the appointment of judges to Poland's Constitutional Tribunal.

“Thousands of demonstrators came out to protest against the methods of the government,” he added, referring to Saturday's events.

“It seems to me that my fears are shared by many Poles.”

Prime Minister of Poland Beata Szydło of the conservative Law and Justice party said on Monday that she was expecting an apology from Schulz.

Head of Law and Justice Jarosław Kaczyński has claimed that his party wants to end “cronyism” at the Constitutional Tribunal.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn has said that if the new Polish government wants to gain influence on the judiciary and the media, then European Union has not only the right but is also duty-bound to "get involved", so as to stop such activities.

Nevertheless Polish senator Bogdan Klich, who represents Civic Platform, which was defeated in the October 2015 general election, has said that the Polish opposition and public can manage without outside intervention.

“Support from the West is not necessary, especially the kind of support that is not asked for,” he argued. (nh/pk)