Controversial changes to Poland’s civil service planned
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
18.12.2015 12:01
A bill that critics say will politicise Poland’s civil service has made it through the first stage of parliament.
Bild: Flickr.com/kuchenkainternetowa
The bill, backed by Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, would remove an existing rule that the new head of the civil service must be a person who has not been a member of a political party for the last five years.
It would also allow the new head to be appointed from outside the civil service.
The opposition Civic Platform (PO), Nowoczesna (Modern) and Polish People’s Party (PSL) had wanted the bill thrown out, claiming it would damage the reputation of the civil service.
In total, 166 MPs voted to reject the bill, 243 opposed such a move, and 22 abstained. The bill was on Thursday sent for further work in a parliamentary committee. (pk/rg)