Polish parliament adopts disputed police surveillance rules

PanARMENIAN.Net - Poland's parliament has adopted disputed new regulations for police surveillance that widen its scope but also put it under stricter court control, the Associated Press reports.

The legislation is another element in the sweeping reforms that the ruling conservative Law and Justice party, in power since November, is quickly introducing to some state bodies. Some of the reforms have put Poland at odds with the European Union, which has opened a procedure of checking whether they respect the bloc's principle of the rule of law.

On Friday, Jan 15, the parliament voted 234 -213 with three abstentions to adopt regulations proposed by the ruling party, which argues they will help ensure security. They give police more possibilities of surveillance of suspects, but submit it to court control.

They still require approval form the Senate and the president.